Celebrations of Indigenous culture and traditions: What are the Indigenous festivals in Canada?

Manitoba Ahbee Festival, Manitoba

The Manitoba Ahbee Festival takes place every September and attracts more than 20,000 visitors - most from outside the province.

This is one of the largest Indigenous arts and culture festivals in North America. This gathering celebrates Indigenous culture and heritage with the goal of unifying, educating and inspiring. A sacred fire is lit at the beginning of the festival and burns until the end of the festivities. Many activities take place during these few days. There is for example the Indigenous Music Awards and also one of the largest Pow Wows in North America. It is the largest international competitive pow wow in Canada and the second largest in North America.

Sports, music and dance are also a big part of the Manitoba Ahbee, from Aboriginal songs to gospel to round and square dancing. Cuisine is another central part of the festival. There is a pavilion dedicated to Indigenous culinary arts, as well as a culinary competition for Indigenous chefs. The Manitoba Ahbee festival is held on land that was previously off-limits to First Nations until 1960

In Ontario

There are several major Aboriginal festivals taking place in the province of Ontario.

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, Toronto

This festival highlights Indigenous cinema in the city of Toronto. The 2023 edition takes place in October on Anishinaabe, Mississaugas of the Credit, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee territories.

For Indigenous peoples, and especially their creatives, it is a safe place to meet and exchange. This kind of festival allows them to reclaim the narrative of their lives, a highly symbolic gesture as they collectively remember their painful past.

This festival also aims to connect these young creatives with relevant organizations in the media field. The organizers want them to benefit from the various opportunities available in the field, through mentoring, sponsorship or training for example.

The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival in Ottawa

This June festival is an opportunity to celebrate the summer solstice on June 21, but also to celebrate the cultures, heritage, knowledge, arts and know-how of First Nations, Métis and Inuit. During the festival, visitors can enjoy artistic performances, culinary discoveries and participate in arts and crafts workshops. They can find many Canadian products of Aboriginal origin, including jewellery. The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival is held on the traditional and unceded territories of the Algonquin peoples.

The Toronto Pow Wow

This is one of the oldest Aboriginal festivals in North America. Today, this event allows First Nations people to meet and celebrate their culture. Like all other Aboriginal festivals, it is seen as a way to strengthen the self-esteem of First Nations people.

The pow-wow is preceded by a conference on indigenous economic development, to encourage young people and mobilize them in building their personal future and also that of the community.

The Grand Entrance begins the pow wow and is its sacred heart. The competitive dance is another key moment of the festival. The First Nations colours that represent the races of the world are predominant: black, white, red and yellow.

Workshops are organized to discover local Canadian products. The vibrant culture of Aboriginal peoples is found in artifacts and craft products, such as baskets and dream catchers. Aboriginal wine, for example, is regularly highlighted. Music and clothing are also encouraged through a music awards ceremony and a fashion show. For the little ones, the pow-wow includes an educational day. It allows schoolchildren to discover Aboriginal culture through craft workshops, dance and storytelling.

The reappropriation of traditional cuisine is also evident during this pow wow. You can taste traditional corn soup, game-based dishes - such as elk hamburger - or even surprising drinks such as cedar tea.

Tkaronto Music Festival in Toronto

The first edition of this indigenous music festival was held during the month of June 2023. It began on National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21). On the program during these 4 days: musical performances, culinary discoveries and cultural workshops.

Children were welcome with kid-friendly programming throughout the day. In celebration of National Indigenous Month, many renowned Indigenous artists performed on stage at the Tkaronto Music Festival. After dark, a party atmosphere was provided by live DJs.

In Quebec

Several indigenous festivals take place in this province.

The Great Gathering of First Nations in Mashteuiatsh

This event takes place in July on the Ilnu cultural transmission site of Mashteuiatsh, on the shores of Lake Pekuakami or Lake Saint-Jean. The site is located 3 hours from Quebec City.

The Great Gathering of First Nations is a time of celebration and cultural sharing. There are pow wow dances, drumming groups and traditional sports competitions. Visitors can also enjoy craft and manual arts exhibits and discover the culinary arts of the First Nations. A beautiful fireworks display is also planned for a beautiful spectacle once night falls. In 2023, the 17th edition will take place in July.

The Wendake International Pow Wow

This event takes place at the artistic crossroads near the Akiawenrahk' River, 20 minutes from Quebec City. It brings together First Nations people from all over North America. This festival is a real moment of sharing traditions and culture, particularly those of the Huron-Wendat. Several groups represent themselves in international dance and percussion competitions.

As in other festivals of this style, cultural sharing also takes place through cuisine. You can taste game or bannock (bannock in English), this traditional Aboriginal bread. A craft fair is also planned to allow exhibitors to offer their unique artifacts to visitors.

After dark, Aboriginal DJs get the crowd going with “pow wow step” music.

There are many other Indigenous festivals in Canada, but most are still small. Indigenous peoples are just starting to come together and organize, so there is hope that these events and celebrations will grow in size in the future. If you are interested in attending these types of festivals, you should know that most of them take place in the summer, particularly in June. Summer is also the most popular season to visit Canada and tourists are flocking in droves.

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