An Artist-led Gathering of Sharing, Workshops & Teachings
yuse’lu skweyul mukw’ ‘uw’ sq’uq’ipulup
Friday
September 12
2025
Saturday
September 13
2025
Artistic Sharing
Evocative and heartwarming presentations in the Chief Dan George Theatre
Workshops
Participate in an array of engaging workshops and panel discussions in the Barbara McIntyre Studio
General Forum
Language Heroes: Challenges and Connections
With Hul’q’umi’num’ artists years of teaching and research experience, their guidance during the general forum will provide a foundational platform for the Festival. The artists will discuss the role of language revitalization in communities and within educational settings. It will allow the audience to grasp the challenges, obstacles, and connections around the reclamation of endangered languages.
This year’s Indigenous Theatre Festival will feature a series of exciting workshops led by incredible artists and facilitators:
From Page to Stage with Tara Morris
Dance and Language with Samantha Sutherland
Finding Your Voice with Laura Cranmer and Amanda Wager
Stay tuned for more details!
These workshops will offer creative and meaningful ways to engage with Indigenous languages, movements, stories, and performances as part of the festival experience.
Indigenous Theatre Festival is FREE to all
Only registration is required to attend
and save your spot
Performances
Utszan
Performed by Yvonne Wallace
Yvonne Wallace (Ucwalmicw) is from the Lil’wat Nation. She graduated the Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree program at Capilano University and is currently working on her Master’s in Education Leadership at UBC. Her enthusiasm for theatre began while she worked at The Centre for Indigenous Theatre. Later, she graduated with honours from Humber College Theatre Acting program.She has written four plays: “Smothered Sweetly,” “The Last Dance,” “I Will Remember My Language” and “ustzan (to make things better),” a play dealing with language reclamation and her first language fluency progression. Utszan premiered in Whistler, in 2019, Yvonne’s traditional Territory; and has toured to Dawson City, Whitehorse. She is looking forward to honouring her bookings that were scheduled as playwright and performer as soon as our current situation becomes safe. Yvonne can be found in Lil’wat working on her fifth play, “ReZonance.”
Traditional Hoop Dance
Performed by Jay Genaille
Jay paints a unique story through the art of this Traditional Hoop Dance presentation. Jay will engage with the audience by offering an introduction and a short bio, speaking about how he has revitalized his language through dance. Then, he will share some of the teachings around the hoop dance and provide a better understanding by explaining the meaning behind each formation, showcasing a 15 minute performance in honour of our animal relatives of the Land, Elders, Ancestors, community, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Men and Women and the Children who never made it home. Finally, he will close the show with motivational, inspirational, and encouraging words, leaving time for Q&A.
Git Hayetsk Dance
Performed by Git Hayetsk Dancers
The Git Hayetsk Dancers are an internationally renowned dance group led in partnership by artist and carver Mike Dangeli (Nisga’a, Tsimshian, Tlingit, and Tsetsaut Nations) and Dr. Mique’l Dangeli (Tsimshian and Tlingit Nations), Assistant Professor of Indigenous Arts in the Department of Art History and Visual Studies at the University of Victoria.
Git Hayetsk means “people of the copper shield” in Sm’algya̱ x, the language spoken by the Nisga’a, Tsimshian, and Gitxsan Nations. The copper shield is the highest form of ceremonial wealth shared among their people as well as other First Nations along the Northwest Coast. Their dancers are bonded by their connections to the Sm’algya̱ x speaking peoples with distinction in their family ties to the many other Nations in Northern British Columbia, the Yukon, and Southeast Alaska. Since 1999, they have shared their songs and dances at ceremonial and public events in urban and rural communities through Canada, the US, and abroad including Austria, Malaysia, Germany, and Japan.
The Git Hayetsk Dancers challenge themselves to learn and practice the artistry of dance, song composition, choreography, and regalia-making to the standards of wealth, power, and prestige embodied by the copper shield. With deep love and respect for their communities, they draw their strengths together to give life to the songs and dances of their ancestors as well as bring to life new ones that reflect their experiences as First Nations people today.
Stay tuned for more details about our performances!