Morning Site Visit: Paddle for Peace on the Rideau Canal [sign-up required]

Date & Time
Jun 16, 2026 | 10.00 - 12.30

Participants
Becca Farnum, Queen Mary University of London (United Kingdom)
Max Finkelstein, Kichi Sìbì Mìkànsan Institute (Canada)

Join peace paddlers and Indigenous guides from the Kichi Sìbì Mìkànsan Institute for a waterways journey around Ottawa!

The Kichi Sìbì Mìkànsan Institute works to revitalize Ancient Indigenous Trails in eastern Ontario and western Quebec around the Ottawa River — known in Algonquin as the Kichi Sibi. Since time immemorial, collectively established routes along these Lands and Waters enabled daily life, connected Indigenous Peoples, and formed a vast transportation network that facilitated cultural and socioenvironmental interactions.

Thanks to a special dispensation and permit granted in acknowledgement of the conference themes, this tour will launch from the Canadian Museum of History. Tessouat, an important Algonquin Chief, met with Samuel de Champlain on his 1603 journey up the Ottawa. A statue of Chief Tessouat is located on the museum grounds beside the river. Launching from this point provides a meaningful connection between past, present, and future: honoring the history and continuity of Indigenous peoples and cultures in this region, respecting the traditional territories on which the Museum stands, and looking towards a future of cultural reconciliation and decolonial evolution.

The tour will include time spent near Rideau Falls, Ottawa Locks, and on the historic Kichi Sibi River. We will have iconic views of the Parliament Buildings, a shipwreck, and an archaeological site. Each large-group boat will include experienced paddlers and an Indigenous guide, who will provide cultural commentary about the historical significance and contemporary importance of the Land and Water we are visiting.

All equipment will be provided. No prior experience is necessary. Meet at the Monument to the Algonquin Chief Tessouat (Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M8: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3wtiizSqGYmZS5PR6).

This activity comes at a cost of 25CAD. Please note that there are limited spaces available, and refunds are not possible after booking - so signing up constitutes a commitment to pay. If you would like to pre-pay, please contact Becca Farnum via becca.environmentalpeace@gmail.com. There are limited spots available for those for whom the cost creates a barrier to participation - please email Becca to discuss.