IPAA acknowledges the traditional lands and waterways of the Anishnaabe (Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation), the Haudenosaunee, the Wendat, and any other nations who cared for the land (acknowledged and unacknowledged, recorded and unrecorded).

We claim space for all Indigenous performing artists by connecting the Indigenous Performance Network across Turtle Island (North America).

Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA) is a federally incorporated not for profit organization based in Tkaronto, ON.

In its foundational years, IPAA underwent several conceptual transformations:

• National Aboriginal Theatre Alliance
• National Aboriginal Arts Alliance

The Board of Directors adjusted IPAA’s title to reflect the organization’s Indigenous ethics (supporting the work of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis performing artists) and broad interdisciplinary approach. 

IPAA became a federally incorporated not-for-profit organization on March 16th, 2005.

Throughout its evolution IPAA has matured into a critical organization in the national ecology of the performing arts. Markers of this maturation include establishment of an office space in Toronto, ON, a national board of directors, the engagement of an Executive Director, and securing of operating funding from Canada Council for the Arts.

History of Gatherings & Milestones

• March 2024 – Canadian Arts Summit (Banff, AB)
• March 2024 – Community Cares Conference (Winnipeg, MN)
• February 2024 – Beyond Burnout: Cultivating Balance through Self-Care and Creativity.’(Digital)
• February 2024 – IPAA Membership Meet and Greet (Vancouver, BC)
• February 2024 – Matriarchs Uprising (Vancouver, BC)
• January 2024 – Anti-Anxiety Workshop (Digital)
• November 2023 – CAPACOA Conference (Ottawa, ON)
• May/June 2023 – Indigenous Music Summit (Toronto, ON)
• May 2023 – Intertribal Gathering 2023 (Halifax, NS)
• April 2023 – Charitable and Non Profit Budget Coalition (Ottawa, ON)
• March 2023 – Coastal Dance Festival (Vancouver, BC)
• January/February 2023 – Talking Stick/PUSH festival (Vancouver, BC)
• November 2022 – Riddu Riddu – Presenters Gathering (Norway)
• November 2022 – Mundial in Montreal (Montreal, QB)
• October 2022 – Outreach: WOMEX – Worldwide Music Expo (Lisbon Portugal)
• September 2022 – Outreach: Prismatic Arts Festival (Neptune Theatre, Halifax, NS)
• September 2022 – Outreach: Indigenous Music Summit (Neptune Theatre, Halifax, NS)
• July 2022 – Outreach: Mariposa Folk Festival (Barrie, ON)
• June 2022 – Outreach: Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (Peterborough, ON)
• May 2022 – Outreach: Indigenous Music Sovereignty Discussion (Digital)
• Sept 2021 – IPAA Tech Bundle program available to northern and remote communities (various locations)
• Mar 2021 – Online Edition of Intertribal Gathering (Digital)
• Oct 2019 – 2nd Gathering of Northern Ontario’s Indigenous Presenter Network (Digital)
• Sept 2019 – Inaugural Gathering of Northern Ontario’s Indigenous Presenter Network (Digital)
• June 2019 – Creation of Indigenousnow.ca to promote Indigenous performances in the gta with funding from City of Toronto
• Oct 2018 – Northern Indigenous Presenters Development Project, with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage
• Sept 2018 – Intertribal Gathering: Urban and Rural Arts Showcase at Aanmitaagzi (North Bay, ON)
• Feb 2017 – Acknowledging Tkarón:to Recognize Workshops (ON/QC)
• Oct 2016 – Intertribal Gathering, Yukon Showcase in collaboration with Aboriginal Curatorial Collective (Whitehorse, YK)
• July 2016 – Reaching Critical Mass: Petapan Indigenous Arts @ Dieppe Arts & Cultural Centre (Dieppe, NB)
• June 2016 – Reaching Critical Mass: Indigenous Contemporary Scene @ Monument National (Montreal, QC)
• May 2016 – Treaty 7 Host Nations Conversation (Calgary, AB)
• Feb 2016 – Reaching Critical Mass @ Talking Stick (Vancouver, BC)
• Feb 2016 – Reaching Critical Mass @ undercurrents Festival & National Arts Centre (Ottawa, ON)
• Jan 2016 – Reaching Critical Mass @ PuSh Festival & Full Circle (Vancouver, BC)
• Jan 2016 – PerformanceWiki Edit-a-thon
• Nov 2015 – CAPACOA Culture of inClusion – Host Nations Panel @ Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health (Ottawa, ON)
• Nov 2015 – Intertribal Gathering, Indigenous Language Showcase (Toronto, ON)
• Aug 2015 – Indigenous Performance Network (IPN) Meeting at Prismatic Festival (Halifax, NS)
• May 2015 – The Study / Repast, a partnership with Debajehmujig Storytellers & National Arts Centre (Manitowaning, ON)
• March 2015 – Launch of the Smudging Document
• March 2015 – IPAA’s 10th Anniversay Celebration @ Factory Theatre (Toronto, ON)
• Feb 2015 – Protocols and the Indigenous Performance Network @ Talking Stick Festival Industry Series (Vancouver, BC)
• Nov 2014 – IPAA Talks: Spiderwoman Theatre
• Oct 2014 – Intertribal Gathering, Showcase in partnership with Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company (Saskatoon, SK)
• Oct 2014 – IPAA Talks: Bannock and Tea and Almighty Voices
• June 2014 – IPAA Talks: Staging Ceremony – A Spirit’s Face
• Apr 2014 – IPAA Talks: Dione Joseph
• Apr 2014 – The Summit, a partnership with National Arts Centre: English Theatre @ The Banff Center (Banff, AB)
• Oct 2013 – Intertribal Gathering, Ontario Showcase (Toronto, ON)
• Oct 2008 – IPAA Think Tank @ Debajehmujig Creation Centre (Manitoulin Island)
• Mar 2005 – IPAA becomes a federally incorporated non-for-profit organization
• Feb 2004 – Birth Date: Inaugural Board Meeting @ Talking Stick Festival (Vancouver, BC)