Kitchisipi Pimisi (Ottawa River Eel): Reviving the Algonquin Connection to the Eel through Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge and Western Science

The Algonquin and their ancestors have shared their traditional waters with the eel in the Ottawa River Basin since time immemorial.  Archaeology and oral tradition provides evidence of the Algonquin relationship to the historical abundance of eel in the Ottawa River Basin. Today, the eel has all but vanished from the Ottawa River Basin and the Algonquin relationship to the eel has suffered greatly as a result. This unique presentation highlights the Algonquin journey to rebuild a cultural connection to eel through Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK) collections, the application of ATK in eel recovery, and participation in eel recovery initiatives.