Indigenous Peoples Space, Federal heritage building at Wellington Street, Ottawa, Canada
The Indigenous Peoples Space occupies a stone building with classical architectural details and symmetrical composition located at 100 Wellington Street in Ottawa. The first floor houses a gallery showing contemporary Indigenous artwork, while the second floor contains office spaces and meeting rooms for community use.
The building was constructed in 1931 as the United States Embassy in Canada and sat vacant for approximately 20 years before its transformation in 2017. This conversion marked a significant turning point that redirected the structure toward serving Indigenous communities.
The space serves as a gathering place where First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples display their art and hold community events. Visitors can observe how contemporary Indigenous artists use this venue to share their stories and perspectives with the public.
The building sits directly beside Parliament Hill and is easy to reach on foot from downtown Ottawa. The interior layout is clearly marked, making it straightforward for visitors to navigate the galleries and exhibition spaces.
The building sat abandoned for two decades after losing its original purpose, making it an overlooked landmark that was eventually revived. This unexpected second life demonstrates how forgotten structures can be repurposed to serve new communities and causes.
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