OTTAWA ABORIGINAL COALITION
About Us
Formed in 2001 as a means of presenting a unified voice on behalf of the urban Indigenous community in Ottawa. The Coalition is an alliance of urban Indigenous service delivery organizations that provide front-line programs and services to Indigenous people living in the National Capital Region.
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, Research Coordinator, Research Assistant, Project Coordinator, Project Support.
What we do
The OAC advocates at the community, municipal, provincial and federal levels and seeks to educate and raise awareness on Aboriginal issues and the unique circumstances of Aboriginal people and their interests in Ottawa. Ultimately we seek to increase the positive and healthy choices available to Aboriginal community members and their families across a wide and diverse range of considerations, whether it is health or housing or education to employment and training or access to cultural activities.
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.
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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.
Recent History
Coming out of COVID, the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition has strengthened the collaborative relationships and focused on a number of key priorities:
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Indigenous Housing and Homelessness Strategy
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Indigenous Mental Health and Wellness Strategy
Our Members
To learn more about our members, click here.