Intertribal Gathering 2025
About Intertribal Gathering
IPAA’s Intertribal Gathering travels to different communities each year, featuring local artists in Indigenous performance showcases, spotlighting Indigenous leaders in the region and encouraging national artistic leaders to connect with the work emerging across Turtle Island (North America). The Gathering will feature showcase performances by some of Canada’s top Indigenous theatre, dance, and musical performers.
#ITG25 – Vancouver
Mark your calendars!
Intertribal Gathering returns in-person on November 17th-19th, 2025, in beautiful Vancouver, BC.
Our Gathering will be hosted on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xwm??kw?y’?m (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and S?l’ílw?ta?/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, (also known as Vancouver), BC. We are grateful they are hosting ITG25 on their territory this Fall.
ITG25 will bring together Indigenous arts-makers and allies to Vancouver for three days of sector-focused discussions, networking, and showcase performances.
ITG25 will follow the Open Space, non-hierarchical conference model. This means that attendees will have the opportunity to set the discussion topics for the conference. Attendees are encouraged to submit discussion themes as part of the registration process, and these themes will help guide the discussions.
ITG25 will also feature showcase performances by some of Canada’s top Indigenous theatre, dance, and musical performers.
IPAA recognizes the generous contributions of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, the BC Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council & Balancing Act.
Open Space Conference Structure
Tuesday, November 18th
Breakfast with Balancing Act
Art and Care: Giving and Receiving
Balancing Act is a national initiative to support artist and arts worker parents and caregivers*. Over breakfast, the Balancing Act team will share stories of artists and organizations who are implementing care support for their artistic collaborators. Special guests include Balancing Act’s past partners: Savage Society (Amy Wertz, Operations Manager), who developed a mental health Care Support Plan and O.Dela Arts (Olivia C. Davies, Artistic Director), who support childcare for their artists.
Daytime Discussions Facilitator: Terri-Lynn Brennan
ITG25 will follow the Open Space, non-hierarchical conference model.
How does Open Space Work?
Open Space is a social conferencing approach to holding community conversations.
Using self-determination ideals to identify the issues most in need of discussion and
most important to communities as a whole, conversations are tasked to discuss realistic
and timely answers or opportunities to address those issues, in turn strengthening the
cohesion, health and successful progress of that same community.
Attendees were asked what conference ideas they were most interested to discuss in an Open Space format at this year’s event.
From those ideas, the event facilitation team (IPAA Board members and event facilitators)
narrowed down themes and/or bundles into 4 broad concepts:
Presence
Participation
Access/Resources
Advocacy
After the morning break on Tuesday November 18th, participants will be provided with sticky notes to
write down their previous or new questions in relation to each of the bundles (one
question per note). The notes will then be posted in an area of our workshop space that
has each of the bundle themes separated on the walls about the room.
During lunch a bundle facilitator will prioritize the stickies based on most similarly
requested ideas. Participants will then review each of the prioritized bundle questions
and decide on which bundle conversation they would like to join. After lunch 4 bundle
conversations will take place simultaneously during Open Space Session 1 with a
facilitator and recorder team distributed about each of the bundle conversations. The
sessions will have at least 90 minutes to share ideas.
After a break in the sessions, each of the 4 bundle conversations will be repeated in Open
Space Session 2 so that participants can either continue with the discussion they started
in the first Open Space dialogue, or move on to another one of the bundle conversations
for again another 90 minutes. There will be only 2 Open Space Discussions, so
participants may move between groups if they are inspired to learn and share in different
conversations.
A Graphic Concept artist who will visit the groups throughout each of the circle
conversation opportunities will begin to put images together on how and what is shared
during these discussions, resulting in 4 concept drawings based in the discussions had for
each of the bundle conversations. On Wednesday November 19th during the Indigenous-Only
Breakout session in the morning, these concept drawings will form the basis of
information and opportunities for IPAA to continue to serve its membership most
effectively over the next year.
Wednesday, November 19th
Programming TBD
Conference Schedule
Monday, November 17
| Time | Event | Location |
| 3-5pm | Haida House Gathering & Tour | Museum of Anthropology 6393 NW Marine Drive |
| 5pm | Welcome Feast (catered) | Museum of Anthropology 6393 NW Marine Drive |
| 7-9pm | Music Performance Showcase Featuring: Spakwus Slolem, Wesley Hardisty, & LOV (See bios below) | Museum of Anthropology 6393 NW Marine Drive |
Tuesday, November 18
| Time | Event | Location |
| 8:30am | Breakfast (catered) Sponsored by Balancing Act | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 10am | Introductions | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 11:30-11:45am | Break | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 11:45am-12:30pm | Open Space Introduction | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 12:30pm | Lunch (catered) | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 1:30pm | Open Space Session 1 | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 3pm | Break | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 3:30pm | Open Space Session 2 | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 5pm | Day 1 Wrap-up | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 5pm-7pm | Dinner Break | Attendees are responsible for their own dinner |
| 7-9pm | Dance Performance Showcase Featuring: Raven Spirit Dance, Sophie Dow & Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers (See bios below) | Annex Theatre 823 Seymour St |
Wednesday, November 19
| Time | Event | Location |
| 8:30am | Breakfast (catered) | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 10am | Session 3: Two Breakouts | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 10am | Breakout 1 | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 10am | Breakout 2 | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 12:30pm | Lunch (catered) | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 2pm | Final discussions | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 4pm | Wrap-up Keynote by Michelle Olsen | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 5pm-7pm | Dinner Break | Attendees are responsible for their own dinner |
| 7-9pm | Theatre Performance Showcase Featuring: Holy Crow Arts & Savage Society (See bios below) | Annex Theatre 823 Seymour St |
Registration Info
Dates:
Monday November 17, Tuesday November 18th, Wednesday November 19th, 2025
- Programming will begin at mid-afternoon on November 17, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early or the day before.
- Programming will conclude the evening of November 19.
Registration Process:
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Once you have registered so, return to this web page to pay your registration fee (if applicable). Then, click the hotel link below to book your hotel, and book your own flight.
Accommodation:
Rooms are available at The Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown at a discounted rate ($185/night).
Travel:
Attendees are responsible for their own travel to and from Vancouver
Food:
Meals included: Breakfast Tuesday & Wednesday, Lunch Tuesday & Wednesday, Dinner Monday
Fee:
IPAA Members Indigenous Artists, and Indigenous Organizations: Free
Ally organizations, non-Indigenous Artists & non-members: $225
Getting to the hotel:
Attendees are responsible for their own travel to and from the hotel.
Taxi/Uber
The fastest way to get to the hotel from the Vancouver Airport is via Taxi or Uber. It is approximately a 20-30 minute journey, depending on traffic.
SkyTrain – Canada Line
The SkyTrain Canada Line travels between Downtown Vancouver and the Vancouver Airport. It is approximately a 25-30 minute journey, which runs every 7-8 minutes. The SkyTrain lets you off at the Yaletown-Roundhouse Station, which is a 10 minute walk from the hotel.
Payment
Once you have registered, click the PayPal Link below to pay your registration fees. Please check ‘Ship to Billing Address’. We will not actually be shipping anything.
As a reminder, registration is free for IPAA Indigenous Artist Members and IPAA Indigenous Organization members.
Performance Showcases
Each evening, join us for a showcase featuring some of the best Indigenous Talent from across Turtle Island
Hosted by Jessica Brown
Jessica Brown is an award-winning Inuit producer, director, and screenwriter based in St. John’s, NL. Her short documentary “Framed Spirit Song” (2022) had its world premiere at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival. Jessica’s focused on telling Indigenous narratives and improving the representation of Indigenous people in the Canadian entertainment industry. As a filmmaker, Jessica tells authentic stories that will inspire future generations. Her goal is to entertain audiences with engaging narratives while exploring different themes, forms and techniques.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17: MUSIC SHOWCASE
Spakwus Slolem
Spakwus Slolem, (translated,”Eagle Song Dancers), are members of the Squamish Nation. Our cultural history is steeped in tradition, spirituality, canoes, family history, legends and stories of our Ancestors. Spakwus Slolem is pleased and honoured to present songs and dances of yesterday, as well as today, and feel very honoured to represent our People in a good way, as our Ancestors had intended.
Wesley Hardisty
Wesley Hardisty is a vibrant emerging fiddler, composer and collaborator from the Northwest Territories. From Fort Simpson, Wesley is a member of the Dene First Nation. He has performed nationally and internationally from Seattle to Iqaluit. He has played on folk festivals, fiddle festivals, Indigenous-focused performances, including multiple tours of the NWT as a feature performer and supporting artist, Canada Scene and Northern Scene in Ottawa, 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He has two original albums and multiple commissions. He attended the Gulf Island School of Performing Arts and is currently in the NACC Mentorship program being mentored by acclaimed violinist/producer/ composer Jesse Zubot. Wesley is sought-after as a collaborator with fiddlers, singer-songwriters, and classical ensembles. Notably he is an Artistic Ambassador for the Downie- Wenjack Fund.
LOV
LOV is a force of resilience, rhythm, and reinvention. Hailing from Treaty 6 Territory, this rising artist transforms personal trials into soulful affirmations of strength and independence. With a sound rooted in UK-inspired soul and guided by a deep sense of purpose, LOV’s music is both healing and unapologetically empowering.
LOV’s rich, smoky vocals found a powerful match in renowned Montréal-based producer Connor Seidel (Charlotte Cardin, Half Moon Run, Katie Tupper), whose refined production elevated her sound into a crisp, elegant, and emotionally layered body of work. Together, they crafted a collection that showcases LOV’s maturity, versatility, and effortless cool.
Her debut singles — Mama, Matriarch, and Relate — have already earned her over 300,000 streams across platforms and more than 2 million views on TikTok, signaling a fast-growing fanbase drawn to her authenticity and style. Matriarch soared into the Top 10 on the Indigenous Music Countdown, affirming her rising profile in the Indigenous music community. She’s also been featured on major Spotify Editorial playlists, including Mood Ring, EQUAL, and Fresh Finds Canada, as well as Apple Music’s Indigenous Now—testament to her wide-reaching, cross-platform appeal.
LOV is not just making music—she’s making a statement. And this is only the beginning.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18: DANCE SHOWCASE
Raven Spirit Dance
Raven Spirit creates contemporary dance that is rooted in Indigenous perspectives and practices. We share our work on local, national and international stages.
Frost Exploding Trees Moon is a solo piece following the journey of a woman travelling her trap line. She finds a place to set up camp, builds her temporary home, and settles into the centre of her world of breath and perception.
The piece tracks a physical human journey as well as a spiritual one. It asks: How does one house one’s spirit? What keeps us close to earth and what makes us long for stars?
Sophie Dow
Winnipeg-born Sophie Dow is a multidisciplinary creative, inspired by dance, music, collaboration and Métis-Assiniboine and settler roots. With a unique list of credits deeply impacting personal creative process and vocabulary, Sophie has had the great fortune of working with some of the country’s wonderful dance innovators, including Chimera Dance Theatre, Kaeja d’Dance, adelheid’s re:research, Carol Anderson and Jeanette Kotowich to name a few. In 2018 and 2019, Sophie embarked on epic tours across Turtle Island with highlights featuring choreographing and performing in opening ceremonies of Shambhala Music Festival, filming with Vero Films and teaching dance in many rural & urban school contexts throughout the mountains and prairies.
As a creator, Sophie is consistently nurturing and evolving an inventive voice. Life-changing opportunities to choreograph (and occasionally perform) with diverse ranges of movers continue exploding boundaries of Sophie’s ongoing compositions and curiosities.
Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers
The Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers are three siblings from Winnipeg, Manitoba who share a passion for dance, not just any dance it’s all about the Red River Jig!
Mikey, Jacob and Cieanna began dancing at the young age of five years old. Through their powerful gift of dance they have had great opportunities to travel the world and showcase their style of the Métis Cultural Dance. They perform traditional dances of the Red River Jig mixed with modern dancing known as the Hip Hop Jig.
Their main focus is to attract youth through the rhythm and style of the hip hop jig. They hope to motivate and inspire people of all ages, and bring awareness that their culture is going strong and continues to be ambitious with this dance and music.
Formally known as the Slick and Lil J Show, back in 2012 they lost one of their biggest fans and proud supporter. When Grandpa Ivan Flett passed away, it was with great sadness but an honour to rename themselves the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers. Every dance they do is in honour of him.
Their show wouldn’t be complete without the outfits and they give a huge thank you to their Grandma Dawn Harris-Flett who designs and custom makes all their attire. Thanks to Designs by Dawn!
IFMD would also like to thank all of their fans and family for their continued love and support.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19: THEATRE PERFORMANCE
Holy Crow Arts
Justin Neal is the playwright and founder of Holy Crow Arts, a new Coast Salish centered theatre company that has premiered two of his original plays, So Damn Proud (2021) and Keepers of the Salish Sea (2024), projects supported by the Squamish Nation, First Peoples’ Cultural Council, Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, and the City of Vancouver’s Cultural Grants Program. As a screenwriter Justin’s screenplays have placed him in dozens of competitions, programs, and residencies across North America; his feature screenplay The Skins Game was awarded production funding by Telefilm and will commence filming in 2026. From the late 90s to the 2010s Justin juggled day jobs in San Francisco and New York with amateur theatre at night. In 2013 he took a leap of faith to focus on dramatic writing full-time, relocating to his family’s Sḵwxwú7mesh ̱ Úxwumixw lands to pursue a Joint MFA degree in Creative Writing and Theatre at UBC. Justin is an alumnus of Canadian Film Centre’s Film Program Writers’ Lab and a 2024-25 Shadbolt Fellow in the Humanities at SFU. holycrowarts.com
Things to Do in Vancouver
Food & Drink
Cafes
Perfecto Cafe, Bakery & Gelato
Attractions
Stanley Park
Granville Island
Bloedel Conservatory
Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Art Gallery
Museum of Vancouver
Sea to Sky Gondola
The Cinematheque – offers free tickets to Indigenous guests
Call for Gathering Hosts!
IPAA’s Intertribal Gathering travels to different communities every two years.
If you manage a venue or facility and would like to host the next gathering in your community please let us know by emailing info@ipaa.ca.
Past Intertribal Gathering Host Cities
2013 Ontario Showcase at Cahoots Theatre, Toronto
2014 Prairie Showcase at La Cite, in collaboration with Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company, Saskatoon, SK
2015 Indigenous Language Showcase at Native Earth Performing Arts in collaboration with Aluna Theatre, Toronto
2016 Northwestern Showcase at Da Kų Cultural Centre in collaboration with Aboriginal Curatorial Collective in Haines Junction and Whitehorse, Yukon
2018 Urban and Rural Arts Showcase at Aanmitaagzi (The Big Medicine Studio) in North Bay, ON
2021 Intertribal Gathering, Online Edition
2023 Kjipuktuk (Halifax)
Intertribal Gathering 2023 Highlights
May 10 – DANCE Showcase
-
- Welcome Feast and Opening of bundle
- Member Recognition Award Presentation
- Showcase Event – Sarah Prosper, Sib Bobb & Penny Couchie, Michael R. Denny
May 11 – MUSIC Showcase
-
- Open Space Conference: Making Good Medicine & Building a Stronger Sector
- Graphic Concept artist compiled shared discussion items, resulting in ITG23 banner poster (as seen at top of page)
- Showcase Event – Deantha Edmunds, DeeDee Austin, Urban Surf Kings
May 12 – THEATRE Showcase
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- Reconciliation in Action session: Building Good Relationships
- Final discussions and Closing of bundle
- Showcase Event – Clifton Cremo, Shalan Joudry