Ontario Presents is thrilled to support our members and staff to attend conferences and professional development events with a special focus on discovering new artists. This article is an opportunity for our network to benefit vicariously through those experiences.
Below is an account of IPAA's Intertribal Gathering 2025 as told by Joanne Churchill, OP's Interim Administrative Director.
In mid-November, I travelled to British Columbia to participate in the Intertribal Gathering hosted by the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA). The Gathering brought together Indigenous arts-makers and allies to Vancouver for sector-focused discussions, networking opportunities, and showcase performances. I attended to deepen my knowledge of the wealth of Indigenous talent across Turtle Island, strengthen my personal understanding of reconciliation and decolonization within the performing arts sector, and support OP’s new staff in their learning as part of our ongoing Indigenous reconciliation plan.
The Intertribal Gathering began with a gracious invitation to tour the Haida House and witness the imposing totem poles on the grounds of the Museum of Anthropology followed by a feast meal and an evening of musical showcases. The first of three evening performance showcases, highlighted the music of Spakwus Slolem who presented a glimpse into their Squamish culture through singing/drumming and dance; Wesley Hardisty an emerging fiddler, composer and collaborator from the Northwest Territories who literally got audience members up jigging and dancing; and LOV, a rising singer from Treaty 6 Territory, who wowed audiences with her distinctive sound rooted in UK-inspired soul and guided by a deep sense of purpose. The welcome reception, dinner, and performances all set the tone for the next two days – one of celebrating community, ancestry, and artistry.
The second day was marked by thought-provoking discussions and breakout sessions that followed an Open Space, non-hierarchical conference model. This approach encouraged the participants to identify the issues of greatest relevance and to collaboratively brainstorm realistic ways to address them. Insightful conversations emerged about the importance of safe cultural spaces, building non-transactional relationships with presenters, resource sharing, skills development, Indigenous protocols and Indigenous led cultural spaces. Following a day of rich dialogue, attendees gathered for another evening performance showcase celebrating contemporary dance to traditional jigging. The showcase included Frost Exploding Trees Moon by Raven Spirit Dance, a moving solo piece that explored the journey of a woman travelling her trap line; Jeanette Kotowich’s Steppin’, an energetic – if not truly aerobic – contemporary Métis jig solo; a deeply personal exploration of ancestry in Journals of Adoption by Sophie Dow; and lastly, a heartwarming expression of family with the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers and their Red River Jig.
On the final day of the Gathering I took time to reflect and felt most inspired by the gracious way a diverse group of Indigenous arts-makers and allies – from the east to the west coast – came together to share meals, exchange stories and lived experiences, and most importantly, think creatively. The image of round lunch tables and breakout sessions – where presenters spoke with dancers, funders engaged with organizations of all sizes, and curators and changemakers connected with administrators – was an encouraging display of hospitality, cooperation, and fellowship. This spirit of fellowship carried into the final theatrical showcase, which featured Holy Crow Arts Society’s excerpt of Keepers of the Salish Sea, a play exploring the meaning of life and the elusive answers to existential questions, and Savage Society’s The Council of Spider, Ant & Fly, a participatory work created with and for the community.
My sincere thanks to the IPAA team for welcoming me on my first visit to the Haida House; for introducing me to delicious bannock (where have you been all my life!); for inviting me to sit beneath the gaze of towering, 20-foot-plus totems while listening to music; and for sharing blood-pumping jigging that quite literally takes your breath away. I have returned with a full heart and a renewed eagerness to share my experiences and lessons learned with OP’s new staff as part of our ongoing Indigenous reconciliation learning plan.