William Commanda

This webpage documents and honours the legacy of its now legendary founder,
Late Algonquin Spiritual Leader, William Commanda:

Wampum Carrier, Honorary and Researched PhD,
Officer of the Order of Canada.

11 November 1913 – 3 August 2011

William Commanda

1913 – 2011

North American Indigenous Elder
Founder, Circle of All Nations

William Commanda was known by many names and titles to a diversity of people: Mishomis/Grandfather, Shaman, Wampum Belt Carrier, Chief, Elder, Doctor, Officer of the Order of Canada, William Commanda was an Algonquin spiritual and political leader of prominence, widely known and respected for his staunch and tireless advocacy and prayer on behalf of the penultimate Mother, Mother Earth, and for his promotion of racial harmony and peace building.

He was a world renowned Birch Bark Canoe Builder, Carrier of the Ancient Sacred Wampum Heritage of the Algonquins of the Ottawa River Watershed, originally held by his great great grandfather, Pakinawatik, Stick Hit By Thunder, acclaimed Chief of the River Desert/Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg for almost 20 years, and with Huron Wendat activist, Jules Sioui, architect and Supreme Chief of the North American Indian Nations Government, initiated in the early 1940s.

He received many honours and acknowledgements over the course of his long life, including Master Canoe Builder, Wolf Project and Harmony, Bernard Assiniwini awards, and the 2010 Lifetime Award of the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (now Indspire). He was also recipient of two honorary degrees, in 2005 from the University of Ottawa (Doctor of Philosophy), and in 2011, from l’Université du Québec en Outaouais (Doctor of Honorific Causes), and was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada in 2009.

William Commanda founded the Circle of All Nations, a global eco-peace community unified by his fundamental and unshakeable conviction that as children of Mother Earth, we belong together and with nature, irrespective of individual colour, creed or culture.

The Circle of All Nations is grounded in the Laws of Nature and the foundational principle of GINAWAYDAGANUC – ALL IS CONNECTED.

A Few Core Background Documents

Remembering Grandfather on his 98th birth date: In commemoration 11.11.11
Mini Bilingual Biography 2013: Mini Bio GWC biling- 2013.doc
Annotated Biography English 2014: Annotated Bio 4 RED.pdf
Annotated Biography French 2014: 2014 Annotated Bio Fr Final.pdf
Vision for Asinabka National Indigenous Centre: 2010 Vision For Asinabka 2 Feb 22-10.pdf
2003 90th Birthday Commemorative Posters: 2003 90th Birthday Circle of All Nations Posters
 
 
 
 
 

A Few Key Academic Documents

Thumbadoo, R.V. (2017), Ginawaydaganuc and the Circle of All Nations: The Remarkable Environmental Legacy of Elder William Commanda, PhD Thesis, Ottawa, Carleton University
Thumbadoo, R.V. (2021), SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Award Final Report: 2021 October 28.pdf
 

Additional William Commanda Documents

As per Circle of All Nations’ https://www.asinabka.com/ site.

© Copyright Romola V. Thumbadoo

William Commanda

Circle of All Nations

2021-02-14 Circle of All Nations Live Online Gathering Agenda and Report

2020 CAN Course Infographics: GWC Legacy 2020 – A CN Geo Cosmic Prayer and Reflection

Circle of Life: Donald Marshall Junior

Yoshi Loggerhead Turtle Photo Collage

We are not equal Dilara Erver

2020-05-21 Circle of All Nations 2020 A Commemorative Video

2019 CAN Year End Report

2019-09 WC and UNESCO Indig Lang Infographic Poster

2019-07-19 CAN TRIBUTE Adrian Esposito & Kristina Nomeika

2019-02-23 CAN Tribute to Betsy Stang Tribute

2019-02-12 CAN Tribute to Paul Dewar Tribute

2018 CAN Year-End Report

2017 CAN Year-End Report

2017-03-31 Aboriginal Indigenous book covers University of Ottawa Library Poster

2017-03-06 Colleen Gray’s Reflection on her First Meeting with Grandfather William

2017-02-25 Elder Evelyn Commanda Dewache at the Hope for the Living International Fashion Show Fundraiser

2017-02-19 The Awakening Documentary Screening

2017-02-19 Re-presentation of the CAN 2007 Report on The Awakening Gathering in Perth

2017-02-15 A CAN Mini 2016 Summer Activity Report Bilingual

2017-02-01 2016 Auroville Canada AVI Canada Yearly Report

2017-01-28 2017 Kindergarten Dropout Book Discussion at Singing Pebble

2017-01-14 Luma’s Grand-Pere Peace Event with Association Sacred Circle France

2016-12-31 Mark Lipman’s Poem about the 2010 Gathering

2016 CAN Year-End Report

2015 CAN Year-End Report

2014 CAN Year-End Report

2013 CAN Paddle for Peace

2013 03 Reflections – Vernal Equinox CAN Event

2011 Annual CAN Gathering – A Sacred Moment

2007 William Commanda and the Spirit of Ubuntu

2006 Annual Report on William Commanda’s Work

2005 Annual Report on William Commanda’s Work

William Commanda - Canoe Builder

Note also our William Commanda Facebook Page. Click below!