Isn’t it better when we’re together?

2026 Gathering

January 23-25, 2026 | Rogers Centre, Ottawa, Ontario

You're invited to a national ISET gathering in Ottawa — a chance to share best practices, meet new people, reconnect with colleagues from coast to coast, and leave feeling inspired with fresh ideas to bring back to your community. Join us for meaningful connections, learning, and collaboration.

Workshops, sharing circles, keynote speakers, sharing wisdom and self care sessions.

You deserve this.

Friday 9:30am-5pm | Saturday 9:30am-5pm | Sunday 9:30am-5pm

Registration has closed. Day-of registration at the event is not permitted.

2026 Gathering Schedule

Friday, January 23rd

9:30 AM EST
Welcome Registration
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Ice Breaker and Bingo Session
11:35 AM - 11:45 AM
Elder Welcome
by Claudette Commanda
11:45 AM - 11:55 AM
Introduction
by Gina Wilson, Deputy Minister of Indigenous Services Canada (retiring soon) and current Senior Advisor to the Privy Council Office
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Workforce Labour Needs Presentations & Lunch
with Keynote Presentation by John Desjarlais at the Indigenous Resource Network
Featuring Presentations from:
- Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC)
- Canadian Agricultural HR Council (CAHRC)
- Tourism HR Canada
- Mining Industry Human Resources Council
- BuildForce Canada
- Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA)
- Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC)
- Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC)
- Project Learning Tree Canada (Forestry.org)
- Pathways Executive Search - Canadian C-Suite & Board Member Positions
- Aramark - Canadian Hospitality Industry
- Air Canada - Canadian Aerospace Industry
- BioTalent Canada
- Armed Forces
- TELUS - Canadian Telco Industry
- Digital Marketing Sector Council
- Conference Board of Canada
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Keynote Message Presentation
by Gerald Gosselin, Director General, Indigenous Affairs Directorate
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Networking Break
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
TELUS Wise Cyber Safety and SMB Presentation & Refreshments Break
by Ashton Singh, Andrew Coghlan & Beatrice Muldoon
4:00 PM - 4:20 PM
Personalizing Employment Services: A Practical Walkthrough Using the Vicinity Jobs Trends Navigator
by Janice Tremblay and Austin Hracs, MNBC and The Conference Board of Canada
4:20 PM - 4:30 PM
Video Storytelling - Travel Across the Land
4:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Thank You Message
4:45 PM - 4:50 PM
Serco Presentation
4:50 PM - 5:00 PM
Closing Session
5:00 PM
Wrapped for the Day

Attendance by invite only

Professional Progress; Indigenous peoples thriving in leadership and governance
Thinking beyond basic skills and entry-level positions, Indigenous professionals are excelling at all levels and across diverse industries. In this session, you’ll explore real employment case studies and hear a call to action for corporate Canada to embrace bigger, bolder thinking about Indigenous perspectives in the workplace.
Located in Room 203

Hosted by:
- Laurie Sterritt - Founder and Managing Partner, Pathways Executive Search
- Joy Beshie - Principal at Pathways Executive Search
- Tabatha Bull - President & CEO, Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB)
Animée par Victoria LaBillois
Heure : 16 h à 16 h 30
Lieu : Salle communautaire, salle 203

Découvrez votre avenir dans les secteurs dynamiques du Québec !
Débloquez de nouvelles perspectives de carrière lors de notre atelier stimulant, où vous explorerez des formations et des opportunités d'emploi passionnantes dans les secteurs à la croissance la plus rapide du Québec, notamment l'énergie, les transports, les ports et la gestion d'actifs. Joignez-vous à nous pour :
- Établir des liens avec l'industrie et découvrir des programmes de formation adaptés aux besoins de vos clients
- Obtenir un aperçu de l'avenir des métiers et professions spécialisés dans toute la province
- Aider vos clients à trouver des voies de réussite dans des domaines en forte demande
  Ne manquez pas cette occasion de rester à l'avant-garde et de contribuer à façonner la main-d'œuvre de demain. Réservez votre place dès aujourd'hui et participez à l'essor des talents autochtones au Québec.
The Wellness Room offers a peaceful retreat from the main program, featuring beading, Indigenous art colouring, calming scents, music, and sensory supports to help you recharge throughout the day.

Visit the Wellness Room on Friday to Saturday, open from 10AM to 5PM

Located in Room 201
The Community Room is a space to connect, network and hold conversations separate from the main sessions.

The Community Room is open on Friday from 12-2 PM and 3-4PM for conversations
- Please check the signs before entering as private sessions and filming will be held during the day
- Located in Room 203

Saturday, January 24th

9:30 AM EST
Welcome Registration
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Ice Breaker and Bingo Session, Thank You Message
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Self Care Session Session
by Kara Moss, Team Manager-Clinical Operations at TELUS Health
12:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Champion Awards Lunch
presented by BMO
Award Categories:
- Indigenous Skill and Employment Educational Partner Award
- Indigenous Skill and Employment Legend (20+ years) Award
- Indigenous Skill and Employment Leader (30+ years) Award
- Indigenous Skill and Employment Manager Award
- Indigenous Skill and Employment Office Award
- Indigenous Skill and Employment Partner Award (NGO, Charity, Non-Profit)
- Corporate Indigenous Skill and Employment Champion
- Indigenous Skill and Employment Champion - One to Watch
2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Networking Break
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Métis Jigging & First Nations Dancing Experience
by The Lyons Sisters & Akina Ohlman
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Data Discussion Presentation
by Julie Cyr, WTES Coordinator at the Wabun Tribal Council
3:45 PM - 3:50 PM
Refreshments Served & Message from The Channer Group
3:50 PM - 4:20 PM
Mentorship Matters Presentation & Refreshments Break
with Colby Delorme, President of the Imagination Group Inc
4:20 PM - 4:30 PM
Case Management Best Practices Session
by Bryana Couture
4:50 PM - 5:00 PM
Closing Session
5:00 PM
Wrapped for the Day

The Wellness Room offers a peaceful retreat from the main program, featuring beading, Indigenous art colouring, calming scents, music, and sensory supports to help you recharge throughout the day.

Visit the Wellness Room on Friday to Saturday, open from 10AM to 5PM

Located in Room 201
The Community Room is a space to connect, network and hold conversations separate from the main sessions.

The Community Room is open on Friday from 2-5PM for conversations
- Please check the signs before entering as private sessions and filming will be held during the day
- Located in Room 203

Sunday, January 25th

9:30 AM EST
Welcome Registration
10:15 AM - 11:10 AM
Ice Breaker and Bingo Session
11:10 AM - 11:15 AM
Introduction from CERIC
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Mapping Skills to Education
by Rich Louttet, eCampus Ontario
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Best Practices to Support Safe Spaces and Good Learning Environments for Indigenous Learners - Preparation for Cannexus Presentation
12:00 PM
Lunch is Served, Indigenous Works Presentation
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Student Stories
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM
Indigenous Institutes Consortium Presentation
with Erin Monture, President of OSTTC and Indigenous Institutes Consortium Governance Council Member
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Inuit Drumming and Singing
by Nunavut Sivuniksavut
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
AI: How Is It Helpful and How Can It Be Integrated Into Our Work?
by Darian Kovacs
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Mental Health Support: Best Practices for Staff and Clients
by Allison Bear, Vice President at Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Video Storytelling - Travel Across the Land & Refreshments Break
with KPMG
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Bridging Clients to Employment: From Training Plans to Employment Plans
by Kerry Smith
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
You Were Made for This World
by Stephanie Sinclair
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Evaluation
with Andrea L.K. Johnston, CEO at Johnston Research Inc.
5:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Closing Session

MC & Host

Victoria LaBillois

Wejuseg Construction Inc. & Wejipeg Excavation Inc.

Victoria LaBillois is an entrepreneur and mentor who has integrated leadership and community development throughout her career. She holds a B.A. from the University of New Brunswick and an M.B.A., where she earned the E.D. Maher Graduate Student Prize for top academic standing.
She is president and co-owner of Wejuseg Construction Inc. and owner and president of Wejipeg Excavation Inc., companies that contributed to wind park development in the Gaspésie region while creating employment and economic growth for Mi’gmaq communities.
A respected national and international speaker, Victoria has presented across Canada and globally, including in New Zealand, and has moderated high-profile leadership and reconciliation dialogues involving Indigenous leaders and government ministers.
She mentors Indigenous women through programs at St. Francis Xavier University’s Coady Institute and the JEDI Aboriginal Business Accelerator Program, and has twice been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN.
Deeply involved in her community, Victoria serves on multiple boards, teaches financial literacy to youth, participates in a women’s hand-drum group, and is a sought-after MC and speaker.

Featured Speakers

Gina Wilson

Deputy Minister, Indigenous Services Canada

Gina Wilson is a proud Algonquin woman, grandmother, and the Deputy Minister of Indigenous Services Canada. She also serves as the Champion for Indigenous public servants, advancing reconciliation, inclusion, and systemic change across the federal public service.
Gina began her career in her home community of Kitigan Zibi as Director of Health and Social Services and later served as Chief Executive Officer at the Assembly of First Nations. Since joining the federal government in 1996, she has held senior executive roles at the Privy Council Office, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, the Correctional Service of Canada, and Public Safety Canada.
A defining moment in her career was leading Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada, where she oversaw the implementation of the Settlement Agreement and supported the Prime Minister’s 2010 apology to Survivors. She has since served in multiple deputy minister roles, including Public Safety Canada, Women and Gender Equality Canada, and Diversity and Inclusion and Youth at Canadian Heritage.
Recipient of the 2020 Indspire Award, Gina is recognized for her leadership and lifelong commitment to advancing Indigenous rights and supporting Indigenous public servants. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa.

John Desjarlais

Executive Director of the Indigenous Resource Network

John Desjarlais is Nehinaw (Cree)-Metis from Kaministikominahikoskak (Cumberland House), Saskatchewan. John has a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and started his career in 2001 in the mining industry and worked in a variety of roles including E&S, maintenance and reliability engineering management until moving onto executive leadership in economic development and construction. John now serves as the Executive Director of the Indigenous Resource Network as well as Past President of APEGS. John also has extensive regulatory, volunteer, governance, and civil society experience serving on a variety of boards, committees, and other initiatives culminating into several awards over his career recognizing his civil service and servant leadership.

Julie Cyr

Data Management Specialist

Julie is a proud member of Matachewan First Nation, dedicated to advancing indigenous programs for nearly 20 years. Her experience spans administration, health, and education, with a primary focus on employment and training initiatives. As a data management specialist, she is passionate about leveraging technology to build comprehensive digital workspaces that streamline the day-to-day operations of indigenous programs. Julie’s work centers on creating solutions that empower teams and improve program outcomes. Most notably, she developed the Amalgamated Management Program (AMP), a data workspace solution designed to enhance the management and effectiveness of indigenous programming.

Stephanie Sinclair

Publisher of McClelland & Stewart

Stephanie Sinclair is Publisher of McClelland & Stewart, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada. She is a Cree, Ojibwe, and German/Jewish settler. She is a fierce advocate and activist, serving as a mentor and curator, and organizing publishing events to challenge colonial practices in publishing and to advance the work of reconciliation.

Gerald Gosselin

Director General of the Indigenous Affairs Directorate at Employment and Social Development Canada

Gerald Gosselin is a Red River Metis and Director General of the Indigenous Affairs Directorate at Employment and Social Development Canada. With over 25 years in the federal public service, he leads national Indigenous policy, including the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program, the Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF), and the Indigenous Labour Market Information (ILMI) Initiative. Gerald’s primary work focuses on advancing Indigenous-led workforce development, strengthening partnerships with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit organizations, and aligning federal investments to support Indigenous economic participation and long-term prosperity. Gerald was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Colby Delorme

Co-founder and Chairperson of Influence Mentoring Society

Colby Delorme is the co-founder and Chairperson of Influence Mentoring Society, an organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous post-secondary students through culturally grounded mentorship and relationship-building. With more than 31 years of entrepreneurial and governance experience, Colby is also President of the Imagination Group of Companies and has built businesses spanning construction, branding, certification, franchise development, ceremonial tobacco manufacturing, and consulting.
A proud Métis leader, Colby holds an ICD.D designation and has been recognized with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, the Calgary Top 40 Under 40, the Dr. Douglas Cardinal Award, and the 2025 Indspire Award for Business & Commerce. His work continues to focus on creating meaningful, sustainable opportunities for Indigenous youth and communities.

Austin Hracs

Director of Strategic Partnerships and Accounts at the Conference Board of Canada

Austin Hracs is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Accounts at the Conference Board of Canada. He leads national collaborations focused on real-time labour market intelligence and skills development. Austin has spent more than a decade studying how labour market data can improve employment services and help post-secondary institutions design programs that meet real labour market needs. He works closely with instructional designers and academic leaders to understand how they assess new program ideas and builds tools that support decisions that lead to positive employment outcomes for learners.

Austin has worked with employment service providers across provinces to understand workflows that put job seekers at the centre. He knows that no two communities are the same and that every person’s path to employment is different. His work helps teams across Canada use the Vicinity Jobs Trends Navigator to strengthen program planning, employer engagement, and personalized client support.

Elder Claudette Commanda

University of Ottawa Professor

Elder Claudette Commanda is an Algonquin Anishinabe from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation located in the province of Quebec. An alumni of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Common Law and Faculty of Arts, Claudette has dedicated the last 35 years promoting First Nations people, history, culture and rights in various capacities as a University of Ottawa student, professor, member and chair of the Aboriginal education council; and via public speaking events.
She is a professor for the University of Ottawa’s Institute of Women’s Studies; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Law; and the Aboriginal Studies Program, teaching courses on First Nations Women; Native Education; First Nations People and History; Indigenous Traditions; and Decolonization. In addition, she is the Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres, a national organization which protects and promotes First Nations culture, languages and traditional knowledge. She is inducted into the Common Law Honour Society; served two terms on the Board of Governors for the First Nations University of Canada; and three terms on the Kitigan Zibi band council. In 2017, Claudette is the first First Nation appointed Elder in Residence for the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa; and the first person of a First Nation heritage to be appointed to the Board of Governors for the University of Ottawa. She is the Special Advisor on Reconciliation, for the Dean, Faculty of Law. Claudette is a proud mother of four and a grandmother to ten beautiful grandchildren, and recently became a great grandmother. In March 2020, Claudette received the 2020 INDSPIRE Award for Culture, Heritage and Spirituality. In November 2022, she was appointed Chancellor for the University of Ottawa. She is the first Indigenous person to be appointed Chancellor of the University. On September 20, 2024, she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her advocacy of First Nation people, rights and languages nationally and internationally.

Kerry Smith

Senior Director of Métis Employment & Training with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF)

Kerry Smith is the Senior Director of Métis Employment & Training with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). For over 25 years, Kerry has been dedicated to creating opportunities for Métis people and families through skills training, employment creation, youth development, and education. She currently leads a province-wide department that delivers programs supporting Métis youth leadership, culture, and recreation.
Under Kerry’s leadership, the MMF Employment & Training team has helped more than 45,000 Métis individuals achieve their training and employment goals. These successes include engaging thousands of youth in summer employment, career planning, continued education, and leadership initiatives.
Kerry’s influence extends nationally. She has participated in negotiations for Métis strategies that enhance economic and social outcomes and served on the Future Skills Council, appointed by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion, where she provided advice on emerging skills and workforce trends.
Her passion for Indigenous empowerment and economic development continues to drive positive change for the Métis. Learn more about her work at mmfemployment.ca.

Ashton Singh

TELUS Manager, Sales – Business Solutions East

Proud TELUS Team Member serving the TELUS customers and the community for over 15 years. A sales professional with over 30 years in the tech industry believes and lives the core TELUS value of Giving where we live. Ashton volunteers at the Ottawa Foodbank, the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, and sits on the TELUS Community Board for Ottawa and Eastern Ontario where he is part of a team supporting TELUS community investment initiatives. There are 13 of these community boards across Canada and 5 globally focused on community investment, and program development.

Bryana Couture

Strategic Writing & Support Specialist of the Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group (SITAG)

Bryana Couture's roots are spread far across Saskatchewan, having been raised around the province throughout her adolescence. She honours her First Nation, Métis, and German heritages and is deeply connected to her large extended families and her communities of George Gordon First Nation & the Prairie Dog Métis - both in Treaty 4 territory. She is an intergenerational survivor of Indian Residential and Industrial Schools through both her First Nation and Métis lineages, and is a day school survivor of Gordon's Indian Residential school where she attended from 1993 until its closure in 1996. Once on her own, she settled in Saskatoon, Treaty 6 territory, where she has been living, working, and raising her family the past 23 years. Bryana's background is as varied as her beginnings, coming with experience from many different fields, interests, industries and communities. As a Strategic Writing & Support Specialist with the Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group, Inc. (SITAG) Bryana has led a number of important initiatives over the past few years, such as single-handedly overseeing extensive development on SITAG's proprietary database to improve security, usability and transparency. She also creates and delivers impactful capacity building opportunities for the SITAG Network, the newest session is "Restoring Balance: Talking Through Tension," which shares a First Nation worldview approach to conflict resolution.

Chanelle Pepin

Director of Employment Services at Serco

Chanelle Pepin serves as Director of Employment Services at Serco, where she leads Ontario’s Employment Services Transformation (OEST) in Northwestern Ontario. In this role, she guides a multidisciplinary team supporting service providers with performance management and continuous improvement—ensuring locally responsive services that deliver sustainable employment outcomes for diverse communities across the region.
With 15+ years in employment and training, Chanelle has held leadership roles that bridge program design and community impact. She managed Employment & Immigration Services at Collège Boréal and completed a secondment as Francophone Provincial Coordinator on a Toronto Metropolitan University pilot, supporting exploratory projects and case studies addressing provincial workforce challenges.
Chanelle is a creative leader committed to championing equity‑focused initiatives and driving innovation in workforce development and community advancement. She is recognized for shaping inclusive strategies, fostering collaborative partnerships, and building results‑oriented employment pathways that empower individuals and strengthen communities.

Janice Tremblay

Manager of Employment Services and Employer Partnerships at Metis Nation BC

Janice Tremblay is the Manager of Employment Services and Employer Partnerships at Metis Nation BC. She leads a team of front-line career counsellors across British Columbia who deliver full cycle employment services as they assist MNBC citizens seeking sustainable careers.

Janice brings with her extensive experience working with people in transition and/or crisis and has crafted an Indigenized process of one-to-one career counselling that is founded on sitting down to have tea together. This allows their staff to meet people exactly where they are and move them toward their own bright futures.

Allison Bear

Vice-President of the Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group (SITAG)

A nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) member of the Ochapowace Nation on Treaty 4 territory, Allison lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Outside of her professional work, she is an enthusiastic volleyball and hockey mom, proudly supporting her children and embracing the lessons sport instills—resilience, teamwork, discipline, and confidence. As a residential school survivor, Allison brings powerful lived experience and a deep understanding of the realities many individuals face in pushing past systemic, personal, and intergenerational barriers. This perspective informs her leadership with empathy and compassion, and reinforces her commitment to supporting individuals and communities as they navigate pathways to healing, opportunity, and long-term success.
Currently serving as Vice-President of the Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group (SITAG), Allison brings a strong Nation-based and community-centred lens to her transformational leadership style, grounded in accountability, relationship-building, and capacity building for future generations. She has the privilege of providing oversight to a dedicated team that supports 40 sub-agreement holders across Saskatchewan’s First Nation–distinction Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) network. Working collaboratively with partners, Allison is committed to strengthening workforce development systems, enhancing service delivery, and ensuring responsible and values-driven governance across First Nation and Indigenous employment and training programs.

Workforce Networking Session Hosts

Joy Beshie

Principal at Pathways Executive Search

Joy brings a decade of experience in helping organizations identify and attract exceptional leaders. Throughout her career, Joy has worked across all sectors—public, private, and academic—both nationally and internationally, bringing a collaborative and partnership-driven approach to every engagement. With a strong commitment to her values, Joy believes that leadership is not only about results but also about integrity and community impact. Beyond organizational success, Joy is deeply passionate about the economic growth, health, and well-being of communities, and she actively champions initiatives that strengthen relationships and create sustainable, positive change.
In addition to expertise in executive search, Joy has experience in operations and team management, fostering environments where employees can thrive and grow. Her leadership philosophy centers on empowering teams, building trust, and creating opportunities for professional development.
Joy was the recipient of the M.P. Mike Wallace Citizenship Award (2009) in Burlington, ON, for services to the community, holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Ottawa, and is currently studying for her Bachelor of Commerce at Athabasca University.

Laurie Sterritt, BCom, AFRP, C.D

Founder and Managing Partner, Pathways Executive Search

A values-based leader with more than 30 years’ experience in the fields of Indigenous, government and community relations, Laurie is passionate about creating economic and social change with the participation of companies, governments, and communities that have normally been at odds. Laurie has spent her career influencing diversity and inclusion across various industries and inspiring connections that lead to balanced and thoughtful partnerships between Industry and Indigenous communities. Laurie currently serves as a Director for Denison Mines Ltd. and is a member of the Sauder School of Business Faculty Advisory Board. She has previously held numerous Crown corporation and not-for-profit board positions. Laurie is a proud member of the Gitxsan Nation in northern British Columbia. She is a Certified Director and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia, as well as a Certificate in Professional Fundraising.

Tabatha Bull

President & CEO, Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB)

Tabatha Bull is Anishinaabe and a proud member of Nipissing First Nation. As President & CEO of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB), she is dedicated to advancing reconciliation and fostering a strong Indigenous economy that benefits all Canadians. An electrical engineer by training, she is a leading voice for Indigenous inclusion and diversity in Canada’s energy sector and beyond.
Tabatha has regularly provided advice to the federal government, including as a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada–US Relations, the Indo-Pacific Advisory Committee, and the COVID-19 Supply Council. She also serves on several boards, including Dexterra Group, Wigwamen Inc., the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, BMO’s Indigenous Advisory Council and Catalyst CEO Advisory Board.
Her leadership has been widely recognized: she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025), the Nation Builder Award (2025), and was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (2023) and CEO of the Year by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (2022).

Experiences

Christi Belcourt

Visual Artist

Christi Belcourt (apihtâwikosisâniskwêw / mânitow sâkahikanihk) is a visual artist, environmentalist, social justice advocate, and avid land-based based arts and language learner. She is most well known for her large painted floral landscapes of Metis beadwork.
Christi is a visual artist with a deep respect for the traditions and knowledge of her people. Like generations of Metis artists before her, she celebrates the beauty of the natural world while exploring nature’s symbolic properties.

Robin Sather

LEGO Certified Professional builder, Brickville DesignWorks

Robin has been a professional LEGO® artisan and builder since 2004. He is one of only 24 LEGO Certified Professional builders in the world, and was the first one certified, in 2005. Prior to that, he had an IT career, and was very involved in the LEGO adult fan community. In 2022, he become the on-screen LEGO judge and co-host for the LEGO Masters TV show in New Zealand. Season 2 aired April 2023.

Robin is based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. His company, Brickville DesignWorks, uses LEGO bricks to build amazing creations for public events, exhibits, and private clients. He also creates exciting build opportunities for kids of all ages, does personal appearances, and conducts other interactive workshops. He enjoys all aspects of LEGO creation, and especially likes building big stuff, like rockets, castles, dinosaurs, skyscrapers, robots, and more!

Inuit Drumming and Singing Workshop

by Nunavut Sivuniksavut

Sharing Inuit culture and building connections.
At Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS), learning about Inuit history and culture is just the beginning. Students also play a vital role in sharing this knowledge with the wider world, becoming ambassadors for Inuit culture, Nunavut, and their communities.
Throughout their time in Ottawa, students engage in meaningful cultural outreach activities, educating local residents and organizations about Inuit history, traditions, and contemporary issues. These experiences not only raise awareness but also empower students to take pride in their heritage and develop invaluable leadership skills.

Métis Jigging and First Nations Dancing

by The Lyons Sisters & Akina Ohlman

Taliah and Sarina Lyons are Métis Jiggers whose passion for culture has taken them all over North America as performers and as teachers. Being Swampy Cree - Metis with living family in the Metis Homeland (Manitoba and Saskatchewan), the sisters learned traditional dance from a very early age. Métis jigging is a beautiful blend of traditional First Nations and European dance styles (Irish, French, and Scottish) and their unique style combines everything they’ve learned from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

Akina Ohlman is a 17 year old anishinaabe kwe and Ojibwé registered with Whitefish River First Nation.She first became interested in Fancy Shawl dancing while attending cultural programming at The Odawa Native Friendship Centre in 2015 where she watched youth making their own regalia. She became motivated to teach herself to dance through youtube videos and by seeking advice from others. She is a Fancy Shawl Dancer and an active member of Youth4Youth Canada, a Indigenous youth-led grassroots organization that she credits for helping her to grow and continue on her cultural path.

Scholarship Application

We’re actively working with a range of funders to help make ISET Gathering 2026 and Cannexus as accessible as possible. If you require assistance to participate in any part of these events, please complete the application form below.

While we can’t guarantee that all requests will be fulfilled, we’re doing our best to secure support and meet as many needs as possible. Thank you for your interest—we look forward to seeing you there!

Apply Now