Indigenous Women's Arts Conference 2022
October 14-16th, 2022 | National Museum of History | Willis College, St. Laurent Shopping Centre, Ottawa
Tansi! Tawnshi! Tawow! Shé:kon! Annii! Boozhoo! Kwey Kwey! ᐊᐃ
The IACC is proud to work on this monumental project with partners, friends, artists and community members.
The mandate of the Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada is to support Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers in the safe transfer of arts and culture.
Over time, the extensive damage to our Indigenous communities and families has interrupted the transmission of valuable knowledge and resulted in generations of Indigenous people that seek to [re]learn our original ways of being. This knowledge is what the IACC strives to [re]capture through programming and gatherings such as the Indigenous Women's Arts Conference.
We must be gentle with our Elders; they are our last connection to Indigenous ways of knowing.


This conference presents dozens of Indigenous arts and culture workshops and reaches out specifically to elevate home based artists, Elders, urban and on reserve Indigenous mothers, daughters and sisters.
We believe that the knowledge lives in the homes of these women and by enabling them spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally and financially, we are not only empowering each other to establish important contributions but we are cultivating, protecting and conserving the ways of our grandmothers and ancestors.
This women's gathering and all those to come are traditional, community based activities that will advance and regenerate both ancient and contemporary creation of Indigenous arts while assuring that our spirituality accompanies each piece we create.
Museum of History
Archive tours, dinner, Eagle feather ceremony in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and performances. National Museum of History, Gatineau.
Cultural Workshops
Over 20 Indigenous arts and culture workshops available (drums, beading, quilling, and more) throughout the weekend. Indigenous women may register now. Willis College in the St.Laurent Shopping Centre, Ottawa (theatre entrance).
Indigenous Arts Marketplace
Don't miss this opportunity to meet dozens of Indigenous women at this monumental marketplace. St.Laurent Shopping Centre, Ottawa (theatre entrance).
October 14-16th, 2022 | National Museum of History.
Archive Tours
Identifying, Reclaiming and Revitalizing Indigenous Arts and Culture.
The collections, which take up 4 kilometers of shelf space, date from the 1860s to the present and consist of Indigenous archaeological specimens, sacred items, artifacts including basketry, regalia, beaded items, musical transcriptions and more.
Participants will tour and identify works created in Indigenous communities across the Turtle Island.
This event is for IWAC facilitators only very limited space.
Reception Feast
Indigenous Women's Arts Conference opening ceremony with Algonquin Elder, Claudette Commanda and Haudenosaunee Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen with Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) Elder, Theresa Cook Dearhouse.
Feast - Indigenous Chef Phoebe Blackstock will be serving bannock, 3 Sisters soup, wild rice salad, salmon, chicken and desert.
This is an alcohol free event.
Performances
Theresa Bear Fox and the Haudenosaunee Women's Singers, Twin Flames, Fancy Shawl Dancers and Inuit Throat Singer, Tracy Sarazin.
Eagle Feather dedication to missing and murdered Indigenous women and women who have taken their own lives. Mothers, daughters, sisters will receive the feather to carry for their loved one. Contact for info.
October 14-16th, 2022 | St.Laurent Shopping Centre, Ottawa
Traditional Arts Workshops
Willis College, St.Laurent Shopping Centre, Ottawa
Registration will open March 2020
Over 20 workshops including:
Black ash basketry, ribbon Skirts, drums, painting, porcupine quilling, caribou tufting, beaded feathers, moccasins and more.
Registration: Workshop registration is free for women who cannot afford to contribute financially. If you are able to pay for your workshop, your donation will sponsor a woman who cannot pay.
Indigenous Arts Marketplace
Everyone is welcome to shop! Dozens of Indigenous women artists will be selling their hand made products.
Artists include: Millside Ceramics, The Beading Drum, Wick It, Tealey Products, Migwan's Wigwam, Jill Simser Beadwork and more!
Vendors space full. For waiting list, please 'Make Your Own Page' on our website: https://indigenousartscollective.org/create-your-own-page/
All vendors are First Nations, Métis or Inuit. All products are hand made. No medicines or sacred items can be sold.
Conference Details
Accomodations Nearby
Closest hotels to conference site (St.Laurent Shopping Centre, 1200 St.Laurent Blvd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada).
Holiday Inn Ottawa East, 1199 Joseph Cyr St, Ottawa, ON K1J 7T4 (613) 744-1060
Comfort Inn Ottawa East, 1252 Michael St, Ottawa, ON K1J 7T1 (613) 744-2900
WelcomeInns, 1220 Michael St, Gloucester, ON K1J 7T1 (613) 748-7800 (official conference hotel | $135/night (taxes and breakfast included). this is a group rate. Contact dawn@passthefeather.org to book rooms.
Indigenous Marketplace in the St.Laurent Mall
Our Indigenous Arts Marketplace offered over 30 vendors free prime retail space within the St.Laurent Shopping Centre, Ottawa. Vendors reported exceptional sales and a welcoming environment. Shoppers expressed their happiness at having hand made products in the mall and their spending reflected that. All have committed to returning for next year's conference.