About Us

Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition

The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition was established in 2001 to address the needs of the Indigenous community in Ottawa through a collaborative approach. Our members are Indigenous service organizations that deliver essential front-line programs and services to urban Indigenous people living in Ottawa.

This is Who we Are

The OAC is made up of ten member organizations. There are two co-chairs: Mikki Adams, CAFM Executive Director of Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families and Mary Daoust, Executive Director of Minwaashin Lodge- Indigenous Women's Support Centre. The OAC has eight staff working on the key initiatives and strategies in the organization: Facilitator, Relationship Coordinator, Administrative Coordinator, Indigenous Women's Safety Coordinator, Indigenous Well-Being Workers, Research Coordinator, Research Assistant, Project Coordinator, Project Support, and Communications.

What we do

the OAC advocates at the community, municipal, provincial, and federal levels, aiming to educate and raise awareness about Indigenous issues and the unique circumstances of Indigenous people in Ottawa. Our goal is to enhance the positive and healthy choices available to community members and their families across various areas, including health, housing, education, employment, training, and access to cultural healing.

Our Logo

The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition’s logo, which was adapted from the original logo created for the City of Ottawa’s Aboriginal Working Committee, is representative of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada.

Flying forward against the backdrop of the sun is a Snow Goose, representative of all Indigenous peoples as this goose flies across all territories. It is painted in red and black Haida-style with a moose antler in its design to signify the First Nations. A white infinity symbol, which is found in the Métis flag, can be seen swirling around the goose. And the Ulu, a traditional Inuit women’s knife, in the backdrop of the sun is meant to symbolize our most northern peoples, the Inuit. In addition to its circular shape, the 4 colours of the logo are the 4 colours of the Medicine Wheel: yellow, red, black and white.

The History of the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition

The Coalition originally formed in 2001 as a means of presenting a unified voice with the City of Ottawa on behalf of the local Aboriginal community around the issue of homelessness. Between 2001 and 2005, with the leadership of Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, the Coalition worked together on a number of other issues that affected the Aboriginal community in Ottawa including the Official City plan and the investments that United Way provided to Aboriginal community service organizations.

In 2005, it became an official coalition of Aboriginal services organizations that provided front-line programs and services to Aboriginal people living in the National Capital Region (NRC). The original members of the Coalition were: Wabano Health Centre for Aboriginal Health, Gignul Housing, Odawa Friendship Centre, Minwaashin Lodge, Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre, Tungasuvvingat Inuit and a Métis Community Representative.