William Commanda

William Commanda OC (November 11, 1913 – August 3, 2011) (Algonquin name: Ojshigkwanàng, normally written Ojigkwanong, meaning "Morning Star") was an Algonquin elder, spiritual leader, and promoter of environmental stewardship. Commanda served as Band Chief of the Kitigàn-zìbì Anishinàbeg First Nation near Maniwaki, Quebec, from 1951 to 1970. In his life, he worked as a guide, a trapper and woodsman, and was a skilled craftsman and artisan who excelled at constructing birch bark canoes.

Early life Commanda was born on November 11, 1913, in River Desert Indian Reserve (now Kitigàn-Zìbì) to Alonzo and Marie Commanda. His Algonquin name Ojigkwanong (meaning "Morning Star," or more literally "he expels a star") came about as his mother looked out the window of the family's log cabin and saw the morning star shining. Commanda had several notable ancestors, including his grandfather Chief Louizon Commanda, On one occasion he resorted to hiding in the bush in order to avoid the Canadian Indian residential school system. the Seven Fires Prophecy Belt (considered a founding document of the Algonquin Nation); the Jay Treaty Border Crossing Belt; and the Three Figure Welcoming/Agreement Wampum Belt.

He built canoes at Expo 67, This meeting continues to be held annually, and includes others interested in ecology. In 1987 he was asked to build a canoe for Queen Margrethe of Denmark. He continued to work until his final days for the preservation of sacred spaces, such as Chaudière Falls at Victoria Island in Ottawa, and South March Highlands in Kanata. had spent years advocating for the reconciliation with non-aboriginals;

William Commanda has a building named after him at the University of Ottawa. The Institute of Canadian and Aboriginal Studies is called the William Commanda Building. William Commanda never had any children. Grandfather Commanda's wife Mary passed away in the late 1980s. The couple had no children together, but they did adopt Mary's niece, now 65-year-old Evelyn Dewache-Commanda, she had no children.

He also adopted Mary's son, Sonny Smith-Commanda, who died in the 1990s, and his only surviving sibling is Evelyn Commanda.