2026 Program
Subject to change.
Program Streams:
Language and Culture
Reflecting on the TRC's Legacy
Sharing Stories
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Exhibits OPEN
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Breakfast
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Claudette Commanda, CEO, FNCCEC
Stephanie Scott, Executive Director, NCTR, AVPIR/UM
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Reflecting on the TRC's Legacy
Survivor Panel: Reflections on 10 Years Since the TRC
A candid Survivor-centric conversation, reflecting on a decade of truth-telling. Survivors share their perspectives on the 10-year since the release of the TRC Report and Calls to Actions, focusing on the ongoing impacts of Residential Schools and path toward true systematic change.
Dr. Leavina Brown, Survivor NCTR Governing Circle
Dr. Antoine Mountain, Survivor, NCTR Survivors Circle
Elder Brian Normand, Survivor, NCTR Survivors Circle
Elder Keith Chiefmoon, Survivor NCTR Governing Circle
Moderated by:
Sophia Smoke, Dakota Culture and Language Advocate
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Break - Visit Exhibitors
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions
Sharing Stories
A Decade of Change: Reflecting on the TRC Calls to Action and the Role of Media
Ten years after the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, this session reflects on the role of Indigenous media professionals who have led with integrity, courage, and commitment to truth-telling.
Cheryl McKenzie, Executive Director of News and Current Affairs / Executive Management, APTN
Francine Compton, Associate Director of the Indigenous Journalists Association
Melissa Ridgen, Network Managing Editor, Global News
Moderated by:
Kim Sullivan, Producer-Host | Montréal, APTN
Language and Culture
Bringing Our Ancestors Home: The Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation Ceremony at the University of Manitoba
This panel shares information and teachings from Bringing Our Ancestors Home: The Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation Ceremony at the University of Manitoba. Since 1877, the University has wrongly accepted Indigenous Ancestral remains and Belongings that were brought to the University without consent. Read more
Dr. Lara Rosenoff Gauvin, Respectful Rematriation Repatriation Ceremony Co-Chair and Associate Professor, University of Manitoba
Norman Meade, Elder-in-Residence, University of Manitoba
Karen Courchene, Grandmother-in-residence, University of Manitoba
Lorena Sekwan Fontaine, Associate Professor; Department Head (Indigenous Studies), University of Manitoba
Savannah Moon, PhD Student and Committee Member, Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation
Sharing Stories
2Spirit/Indigenous LGBTQI+ Perspectives on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 10 Years Later
This panel brings together Two-Spirit/Indigenous LGBTQI+ Knowledge Keepers and Leaders to discuss the 94 TRC Calls to Action. The session aims to educate the public and bridge the gap between historical erasure and future-focused action, highlighting how reclaiming traditional fluid roles of gender and sexuality is essential for true reconciliation.
Dr. Albert McLeod, Director, 2Spirit Consultants of Manitoba
Sommer Bousquet, Projects Manager, 2Spirit Manitoba Inc.
Sunday Queskekapow, Two-Spirit Néhinawak & Métis – Advocate for Northern 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous peoples
Moderated by:
Sommer Bousquet, Projects Manager, 2Spirit Manitoba Inc.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Concurrent Sessions
Language and Culture
TRC Calls to Action for Education: Intercultural Competency, Skills-Based Training, and Accountability
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada issued six Calls to Action focused on education and training for specific sectors: health-care professionals (CTA 23), nursing schools (CTA 24), lawyers (CTA 27), law schools (CTA 28), all levels of government (CTA 57), and business (CTA 92). These Calls to Action call on these sectors to develop meaningful education that includes learning about the history and legacy of residential schools, Indigenous rights and Treaties, Indigenous law, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. Read more
Chastity Davis, Principal, Chastity Davis Consulting
Moderated by:
Jennifer David, Senior Consultant and Lead, Truth & Reconciliation Service Basket at NVision Insight Group
Reflecting on the TRC's Legacy
Data is Power: Indigenous Data Sovereignty in Action
This panel explores the evolving landscape of Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) and its role in advancing self-determination, nation rebuilding, and community empowerment. Panelists will discuss how Indigenous Nations are asserting authority over their own data, navigating relationships with governments and institutions, and implementing frameworks for ethical data governance. The conversation will highlight commitments from the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Canada’s… Read more
Skylee-Storm Hogan-Stacey, Senior Research Officer, Critical Data Studies, First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC)
Dr. Stephanie Sinclair, First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba
Moderated by:
Raymond Frogner, Head of Archives/Senior Director of Research, NCTR
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Break - Visit Exhibitors
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Keynote Session: Phyllis Webstad
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Bingo Night & Fashion Show
Get ready for some Bingo excitement at IHHG! Join us for an evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition as we gather around the Bingo boards.