Victoria Island (Ottawa River)

Indigenous people inhabited the area up to 9,000 years ago, using the island to portage and for trade. The nearby Chaudière Falls were used for ceremonial purposes, beginning in the 19th century, became the location of residences, commerce, and mixed industry, It has since been recognized as a Federal Heritage Building. while in 1995 Aboriginal Defence League protesters broke into the mill and set up an "Aboriginal Embassy". In 1988, Algonquins of Barriere Lake set up tents on the island to protest "the ravaging of their land by the federal and Quebec governments". They returned in 1990, partly in solidarity of the Mohawk people in the Oka Crisis. In 2013, Attawapiskat First Nation chief Theresa Spence took up residence on the island to protest against the Government of Canada. ==Future==

Following the completion of the remediation project, the NCC plans to work with the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation to develop a master plan for the island and to re-open it to the public. ==See also==