In his life, he worked as a guide, a trapper and woodsman, and was a skilled craftsman and artisan who excelled at constructing birch bark canoes.

[1][2] He was Keeper of several Algonquin wampum shell belts, which held records of prophecies, history, treaties and agreements.

[5] On one occasion he resorted to hiding in the bush in order to avoid the Canadian Indian residential school system.

[4] The three Wampum Belts that were under his care are:[2][6] He built canoes at Expo 67,[4] and in 1969 he founded and held the first Circle of All Nations, a gathering to restore aboriginal culture and spirituality.

[4][5] For this, he invited people to his home for a summit every August to promote good relations between nations, healing, peace, and the protection of Earth.

"[1] In his later years he was accorded numerous honours as he continued to act as a spiritual leader for his people and as a campaigner on behalf of peace, indigenous rights, and environmental consciousness.

[4] Also in 1987, at the fourth First Ministers' conference on inherent rights and self-government for Aboriginal people, Commanda began teaching about the messages of the wampum belts.

He was invited in 1990 to provide a traditional blessing of the Canadian Human Rights Monument in Ottawa with the Dalai Lama.

[1][10] He continued to work until his final days for the preservation of sacred spaces, such as Chaudière Falls at Victoria Island in Ottawa, and South March Highlands in Kanata.