The Circle of Turtle Lodge
Reclaiming Culture
... reviving, promoting, and restoring Anishinabe Culture since 1999
Increasing Awareness
...educating the Settler population in Eastern Ontario
Advancing Reconciliation
We promote the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action
About
We are an independent not-for-profit organization, and a registered charity, based in Deacon, which is at the head of Golden Lake in unceded Algonquin Territory in Ontario
Our Indigenous members include individuals from many different Nations cross Canada, regardless of ‘status’. And we include non-Indigenous Settlers as Allies in our work towards Reconciliation.
And although most Indigenous issues are political, we do our best to maintain a neutral and national focus.
Our Impact
Since 1999, The Circle of Turtle Lodge (CTL) has provided opportunities for people of Indigenous Heritage to gather for culture, healing, and community in the Ottawa Valley. Fully Indigenous-owned, CTL was founded with a clear purpose: to restore the Traditional Culture and Teachings of the region’s Indigenous Peoples, the Algonquin Anishinabe, and to pass them on for generations to come.
CTL has created experiences that touch people’s lives. It published Anishnabe 101, hosted retreats featuring traditional Arts & Crafts, shared Moon Ceremonies, and gathered in Talking Circles.
This year, CTL hosted its first Elders Conference featuring speakers from within our own membership. And now, since receiving a gift of land in Killaloe, by a creek that we’ve named Healing Waters, our Traditional Knowledge programming can include more land-based activities. By reconnecting directly with the earth, our members can truly reclaim their heritage, build resilience, and foster deep, systemic healing, away from urban pressures. Monthly Talking Circles around the Sacred Fire, Moon ceremonies, Seasonal Ceremonies as they happen, and Medicine Walks in the land.
Eventually, we intend to establish a fully-staffed, permanent sanctuary on non-urban land, where ceremonies, teachings, and community gatherings can flourish.
How your gift will be used
Like many grassroots organizations, CTL faces the constant challenge of stable, secure funding. Meanwhile, the need is immense. Renfrew County is home to more than 8,400 Indigenous people, but the Indian Act restricts the local First Nation from helping anyone outside its membership, and without a Native Friendship Centre, services for other Indigenous people is limited. Even as one of the few lifelines available, CTL can only do so much with their own strained resources. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action #92 urges the private sector to go beyond words and take meaningful steps. Supporting CTL is one such step. In just 25 years, CTL has shown what’s possible: publishing books, hosting retreats, and creating safe cultural spaces. With the right support, it is poised to do even more. By investing in CTL, partners have the chance to fill a critical service gap, support Indigenous self-determination, and be part of something lasting: a sanctuary for culture and healing in the Ottawa Valley. You can support our cause by purchasing books from our SHOP , by making a donation Or by considering being our Partner in Reconciliation with your ongoing sponsorship .
Legal Name
The Circle of Turtle Lodge
Charity Number
84585 9016
