The inaugural Pinesi Paddle, retracing Algonquin Grand Chief Constant Pinesi’s route from his annual summering place at Oka, Que. to his hunting grounds in Ottawa will begin June 26th at Oka National Park, Que. Led by Algonquins from Pikwakanagan First Nation, the 154 km, 6-day paddle along the Ottawa River will include direct descendants of Chief Pinesi, other indigenous people, and settlers, ending in Ottawa on July 1st along Pinesi’s vital portage route to the Rideau River in New Edinburgh.
The Paddle will have different meanings for each of the paddlers. For some, it will be about honouring ancestors. For others, it will be hard: about grieving loved ones and lost culture, or a drug and alcohol healing journey. For many settlers, it will be about allyship with indigenous people. For yet others, it will be a strenuous summer holiday.
The Pinesi Paddle begins in Oka and ends in Ottawa on Canada Day – with ceremonies, drumming and dancing at each end, and reconciling with communities around campfires in between.
Leaving Grand Chief Pinesi’s annual summering place at Oka, the paddlers will retrace his route back to his main hunting grounds in Ottawa. The Pinesi Paddle for Peace will end along his vital portage route to the Rideau River in New Edinburgh/Rockcliffe.
Pinesi was one of the last traditional chief residents in the Lower Ottawa River, until he was obliged to move to Algonquin Park. The daily practice of the paddling journey will include efforts towards reconciliation. This will occur amongst the paddlers themselves. But it will also take place in meetings between the paddlers who are: descendants of Pinesi (from as far away as Wisconsin, other Anishinabe Algonquin and settlers, on the one hand, and the mostly francophone communities now living along the Ottawa River, on the other.
After a smudging ceremony, the paddlers will embark from Oka National Park on June 26th and visit Rigaud to meet citizens and Mayor Frigault at Pointe-Séguin. Later that day, local historian Robert Simard will meet with the paddlers, followed by a campfire with Carillon/Pointe-Fortune citizens.
Numerous stops will take place along the route with a similar rhythm in Hawkesbury, Orignal, Fasset, Montebello, Papineauville, Plaisance Park, and Petrie Island.
The 350th Anniversary of the Seigneury of Petite Nation is currently taking place at Montebello. There, Mayor Nicole Laflamme and former Pikwakanagan Chief Wendy Jocko will unveil the Kichi Sibi Trails logo on the lighthouse. Bishop Durocher will provide his remarks. A tour and party with music will proceed.
On arrival in Ottawa, met by a flotilla and greeters on the shore, paddlers disembark at Governor Bay and proceed to the New Edinburgh Fieldhouse. At the Fieldhouse there will be welcoming ceremonies led by the traditional and council leadership of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation (AOPFN) including Kokom Jane Chartrand, Chief Greg Sarazin, Wendy Jocko and Councillor Merv Sarazin, and local dignitaries MP Mona Fortier, MPP Lucille Collard, and Rideau-Rockcliffe Councillor Rawlson King. Paddlers will share their experiences at a Roundtable discussion, buoyed by drumming, and dancing. Chief Pinesi Day provides a way for indigenous people to celebrate on Canada Day, without celebrating colonialism.
Events coordinators are members of the AOPFN, Kichi Sibi Trails, the Archdiocese of Mont Laurier and Crichton Community Council. Financial contributions have been made by Infrastructure Canada, New Edinburgh Community Alliance, AOPFN, Tricycle, Blaney McMurtry and Innovation 7.