Indigenous Pathways
As part of Algonquin College’s Indigenization Strategy, Facilities Planning worked with Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization to name interior and exterior ‘pathways’ on the Ottawa campus using Indigenous names and language.
The street naming is part of a larger Indigenous wayfinding strategy that will expand and complement the interior pathways at the Ottawa campus. The language of the Anishinaabe Algonquin People will be reflected in the street names as a way to embrace Indigenous language revitalization.
Animal names were provided by the Indigenous Education Council in order of cultural significance to the territory. Each animal was assigned a hieroglyphic icon from the Indigenous Hieroglyphics, using the seven original clans of the Anishinaabe and Seven Grandfather teachings.
All Eighteen animal pictograms and names can be found together in Building C’s main lobby, Gathering Place.
Exterior Streets – 2023
- Four private streets on the Ottawa campus have been named official city streets in collaboration with the City of Ottawa.
- Indigenous language has been implemented on the street signs to honour the Anishinaabe language.
- You can review the Ottawa campus map to see where the streets have been named.
- To learn more about the animals and how to pronounce their Indigenous name, click the name below:
Interior Pathways – 2022
- Major routes within and between each building were identified to become the interior ‘pathways,’ and were assigned an animal and a coordinating colour for enhanced wayfinding.
- Five of the fourteen Interior pathways on the Ottawa campus also received large mural illustrations, created by Miskomin Twenish.
- The five major corridors include Màkwa (bear), Mahingan (wolf), Tendesi (blue jay), Mònz (moose) and Wàwàskeshi (deer).
- To learn more about the animals and how to pronounce their Indigenous name, click the name below:
