Indigenous Success Stories: Inuit

August 5, 2021


Ādisōke: Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada – Ādisōke is an Anishinābemowin word that refers to the telling of stories and is the new name for the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada joint facillity given on behalf of the Anishinābe Algonquin Nation, Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation.
Storytelling is the traditional means by which Indigenous peoples share knowledge, culture and history over generations. Ādisōke is a meaningful and fitting name for the joint facility, as storytelling represents the coming together of knowledge, history, discovery, culture, creativity, collaboration, and connections. Ādisōke also evokes what is at the heart of the partner institutions: Library and Archives Canada as a keeper of Canadian and Indigenous stories, and Ottawa Public Library’s use of stories to build community and transform lives by inspiring learning, sparking curiosity, and connecting people.

Set to open its doors in late 2024, with an official opening in 2025, Ādisōke will become a landmark destination built on the shared values of the partner institutions. The facility, designed by Diamond Schmitt, in joint venture with Ottawa partner, KWC architects will deliver a rich customer experience through Ottawa Public Library’s Central Library and Library and Archives Canada’s public services, exhibitions and events, which showcases Indigenous stories and histories, as well as Canadian heritage. The joint programming and services will make this a truly unique offering in Canada


October 28, 2020


Inuit Art Cenre: Qaumajuq

The Inuit Art Centre, officially announced on May 25, 2018, is the largest Inuit art centre in the world, has a new Inuit name “Qaumajuq [HOW-ma-yourq]”, meaning “It is bright, it is lit,” which celebrates the light that flows into the new building connected to the Winnipeg Art Gallery. This naming initiative is an important step on the WAG’s Indigenization journey, as is free admission for all Indigenous Peoples to WAG-Qaumajuq starting with the landmark opening, expected to launch in February 2021. It is the first time an Indigenous naming of this kind has occurred at a major art institution in Canada.
The circle of language keepers representing Indigenous communities across Inuit Nunangat and Treaty 1 territory endowed the WAG building with an Anishinaabemowin name: Biindigin Biwaasaeyaah [BEEN- deh-gen Bi-WAH-say-yah], meaning “Come on in, the dawn of light is here” or “the dawn of light is coming.”


March 31, 2020


Canada 150 Fund: Indigenous Projects

Indigenous related projects included:

  • five signature projects (out of 38, or 13% of all signature projects);
  • two (out of 38, or 5% of all signature projects) that are specifically designed to promote reconciliation and
  • 248 (out of 636, or 39% of all community projects)

Many organizations including the City of Vancouver celebrated Canada 150+ where the “+” sign acknowledged that Indigenous peoples lived under their own laws, cultures and governance structures long before Canada became a country in 1867. The very nature of celebrating “Canada 150” – without the + sign – is an act of erasure by eliminating Indigenous history from the national narrative.