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Indigenous-owned · Saskatoon, Treaty 6 · Shipping across Canada
An introduction to Ottawa: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
Canada’s capital sits on the south bank of the Ottawa River where the Rideau River flows into it, on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. Carleton University, the University of Ottawa and Algonquin College draw students from across the country. The Odawa Native Friendship Centre, which marked 50 years in 2025, hosts a traditional powwow each year that welcomes dancers, drummers and visitors. Every June the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival brings music, dance, food and artisans together around National Indigenous Peoples Day. Negotiations over the Algonquin land claim covering the Ottawa valley began in 1991, and an agreement in principle was reached in 2016. Algonquins have lived along the river they call Kichisippi for thousands of years. The city’s name honours the Odawa, although it was built on Algonquin land. In 1772, Algonquins sent their first petition to the Crown seeking recognition of their territory.
Ottawa is on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation.
Nearby: Gatineau · Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg · Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation · Akwesasne · Kanata
The Algonquins of Ontario bring together ten communities, including an Ottawa community and Pikwakanagan First Nation, to pursue a unified settlement. Their claim covers about 9 million acres of unceded land in the Kichisippi and Mattawa watersheds. More than 1.2 million people live across the 84 municipalities in that area, including Ottawa. The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is on Montreal Road. It calls itself an Indigenous centre for excellence in health care, created by Indigenous people for Indigenous people. Its model draws on the Medicine Wheel and on Ojibwe ideas of health as living the good life. It runs a primary care clinic and an eye clinic. It also offers mental wellness, maternal health and diabetes support, plus programs from infancy to old age. Inuit services are based in the city too. Tungasuvvingat Inuit, on Dupuis Street, is an Inuit-specific urban service provider for all ages. It notes that 40% of Inuit now live outside Inuit Nunangat. Its programs cover employment and education, food security, housing, family well-being, and child welfare. Its Pisiksik Justice Department prepares Gladue reports and supports restorative justice. It also runs food banks for students, families and Elders.
More on the region: Indigenous Ontario · all of Canada.
XUSI is an Indigenous-owned business from Saskatoon, started in 2020 by two brothers from northern Saskatchewan. Along with our clothing, we bring Indigenous youth workshops and custom screen printing to Ottawa and across Ontario.
Strong Roots Strong Future is our interactive workshop for Indigenous youth, led by the two brothers who founded XUSI. We travel to schools, First Nations and Indigenous communities, youth organizations and funding programs in Ottawa and across Ontario. Youth ages 10 and up work through identity and culture, financial literacy, fitness, entrepreneurship and business skills, career readiness and hands-on screen printing.
Custom t-shirts, hoodies and crewnecks for Ottawa schools, sports teams, businesses, events and First Nations and Indigenous organizations. Send us an idea, get free design help and a full quote before anything is printed. We print in Saskatoon and ship to Ottawa. 10-garment minimum, up to 4 colours per design.
Heavyweight cotton tees, hoodies, crewnecks and A-frame hats with Cree words and the stories behind them. Fitness is part of how XUSI started, so our pieces are built for the gym and the street, and we ship them to Ottawa.
Shipping cost is calculated at checkout based on your order. Orders of $90 or more ship free anywhere in Canada, Ottawa included.
Yes. Returns can be requested within 30 days.
Many of our designs carry Cree words and stories, explained on our meanings page, so they reflect our own background rather than Inuit culture. A digital gift card lets your friend choose any piece they like. It is a simple way to support an Indigenous-owned business without guessing at meaning.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
The clothing sits between streetwear and the gym: heavy cotton tees, hoodies, crewnecks and A-frame snapbacks, all drawn by two Indigenous brothers in Saskatoon and shipped to Ottawa.
Nothing is licensed or bought in. Every design, and every Cree word on it, comes from the founders. Browse the whole line, or read the meanings behind the words.
