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The Ottawa Hospital and The City of Ottawa reconsider their decision to cut down 750 trees for the new Ottawa Hospital

 

On February 14th, 2022 the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition respectfully requested that the City of Ottawa reconsider the decision to support the cutting of up to 750 trees for the new Ottawa Hospital. On March 7th, 2022 we met with representatives of the Ottawa Hospital to ask them to reconsider their decision.

 

The OAC is requesting that this piece of land instead be used as a Reconciliation Space for Indigenous people in the City of Ottawa and remain an open public space for all citizens of Ottawa. It can be a symbol of the City’s ongoing commitment to the urban Indigenous people who make Ottawa their home and to true reconciliation with Indigenous people.

 

We do not believe that a hospital that is intended to restore health should be part of a process that would destroy something else that restores health. The trees and the land are an essential public space that needs to be maintained to support the health and well-being of our community and the planet.

 

Trees are significant to the health and wellbeing of all people and for Indigenous people, trees are referred to as the standing people, and are acknowledged as our relations. They are our teachers and healers, givers and providers. The protection of the trees would meet many City commitments around reconciliation from the tree canopy obligations to climate change and to protect the overall health and well-being of all its citizens.

 

We have produced a video that we hope will help everyone understand why this is important and we ask for your help. Please contact the Ottawa Hospital, the City of Ottawa Mayor and Councillors, and the National Capital Commission to support our call for a moratorium on cutting any trees until we can look at options that reflect the needs of urban Indigenous people in Ottawa and all Ottawa citizens.

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“Reconciliation is about forging and maintaining respectful relationships.” (Senator Murray Sinclair) These relationships must be built between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, but also between people and the natural world.

For more information and to contact someone to speak to the media please contact

admincoordinator@ottawaaboriginalcoalition.ca

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