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 Ontario Arts Council.
Open Space Conference Structure
Tuesday, November 18th
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.
Wednesday, November 19th
Programming TBD
Conference Schedule
Monday, November 17
| Time | Event | Location |
| 5pm | Welcome Feast (catered) | Museum of Anthropology 6393 NW Marine Drive |
| 7:30pm | Music Showcase | Museum of Anthropology 6393 NW Marine Drive |
Tuesday, November 18
| Time | Event | Location |
| 8:30am | Breakfast (catered) | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 10am | Introductions | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 11am-11:30am | Break | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 11:30am-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 |
| 7:30pm | Theatre Showcase | 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 |
| 2:30pm | Final discussions | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 4:30pm | Wrap-up | Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites 1110 Howe St |
| 5pm-7pm | Dinner Break | Attendees are responsible for their own dinner |
| 7:30pm | Dance Showcase | 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 above 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.
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
-
- Reconciliation in Action session: Building Good Relationships
- Final discussions and Closing of bundle
- Showcase Event – Clifton Cremo, Shalan Joudry