A group of people gathered around a fire outdoors in winter, seated in a circle beside a tipi.
Estimated Read Time:
5 minutes
Participants gather around the fire to listen to “Métis Stories of the Land” shared by UM’s Elder-in-Residence Norman Meade during the 20th Annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering (ETPG).
Participants gather around the fire to listen to “Métis Stories of the Land” shared by UM’s Elder-in-Residence Norman Meade during the 20th Annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering (ETPG).
Estimated Read Time:
5 minutes
Indigenous

Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering marks 20 years at the University of Manitoba

Ancestral voices continue to guide students, communities and the university

At dawn, two Sacred Fires glow inside the tipis on Buller Lawn, tended by volunteers from Oskâpêwis Training Program. Nearby, the sound of a drum rises from the multi-purpose room in UMSU University Centre as Elders, students, faculty and community members gather in a circle, taking their seats one by one.

Moments like this have become a familiar part of the Annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering (ETPG). In 2026, the event marked its 20th year, guided by the theme “Ancestral Voices Guide Us.”

People gathered outdoors in winter around a small fire, seated on chairs and hay bales in front of a stone building.
A group of people standing on a stage while others applaud, beside a podium at an indoor event.
A group of people seated in a lecture-style room, listening and taking notes during a presentation.
The 20th Annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering (ETPG) took place March 5–6, 2026, at the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus

Interest in the gathering continues to grow. Within two days of registration opening this year, more than 700 people signed up, the fastest and largest response in the event’s history.

This past year was the largest yet
and shows how important it is to provide opportunities like this.

Carla Loewen, director of the Indigenous Student Centre, who previously led the gathering

As the University of Manitoba’s Indigenous community and initiatives continue to grow, additional support has helped strengthen the gathering. With support from central administration and the Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous), the Cultural Integration office, led by Vanessa Lillie, was established to lead the organization of the event, building on the work of the Indigenous Student Centre.

For two decades, Elders and Knowledge Keepers have come to campus to share teachings with students and the wider community — creating a space where learning happens not only in classrooms, but also through ceremony, storytelling and community.

The original vision: from academic discussion to lived experience

Elder-in-Residence Carl Stone, who served as co-emcee this year, has been involved since the gathering’s early years. He said the idea was partly inspired by gatherings in the 1960s and 1970s, when Elders travelled to communities to speak with young people about identity, culture and ways of life.

The concept later came to UM through Indigenous Studies professor Dr. Peter Kulchyski, who encountered similar gatherings at Trent University and helped introduce what would become the Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering.

Stone recalled that although Indigenous Studies courses already existed, discussions about Indigenous experiences were often framed mainly through academic or historical perspectives.

There was really nothing beyond the Native Studies department bringing Indigenous knowledge...In terms of traditional spiritual knowledge, we wanted more than that.

Carl Stone, Elder-in-Residence, 2026 ETPG co-emcee

The gathering was designed to create a different kind of learning environment — one where Elders and Knowledge Keepers could share teachings directly with younger generations.

“It was intended to speak to young people about our way of life and our identity, so they would have something to build on.”

For Stone, these conversations are not only about cultural learning, but about helping young people understand who they are and where they come from.

A large group of people posing together indoors, with some standing and others kneeling in front.
Two participants embrace during a moment of recognition at an Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering, with flags displayed in the background.
Two photos of the same person speaking at different times, one at a podium and one holding a microphone.
From left to right: the early beginnings of ETPG in 2005; Dr. Peter Kulchyski in 2004; and Carl Stone in 2026 (left) and 2009 (right).
Institutional change: when ceremony became possible on campus

“For 20 years, this gathering has been a vital space for relationship building, dialogue, ceremony and shared learning,” said Dr. Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor, in his opening remarks.

He reflected on how the Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering brings different knowledge systems together and noted that the past two decades represent more than the continuation of an annual gathering. They mark a longer journey of relationship-building and knowledge-sharing between the university and Indigenous communities.

Vice-President (Indigenous) Dr. Angie Bruce also spoke about how much has changed over time.

There was a time when holding a ceremony in these spaces would never happen...Today, those moments are becoming part of campus life.

Dr. Angie Bruce, Vice-President (Indigenous) of UM

She encouraged university leaders and staff to carry the teachings shared at gatherings like ETPG into their classrooms, decision-making processes and everyday work.

“Gatherings like these… strengthen us in the work that we do. They strengthen our students, our youth, our Elders — all of us who are finding our identity — and they hold us as we do this hard work, this hard work of walking in academic institutions and walking in the world.”

For many participants, the gathering reflects a broader institutional shift — from inviting Elders onto campus to actively integrating Indigenous knowledge into teaching, research and campus culture.

Two people speaking at separate podiums indoors, a man on the left and a woman on the right.
A woman (Vanessa Lillie) speaking at a podium with a microphone and laptop indoors.
Two photos of the same person at different times, one speaking at a podium and one standing with another person at a table.
From left to right: UM President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Michael Benarroch and Vice-President (Indigenous) Dr. Angie Bruce; Vanessa Lillie, Director of Cultural Integration; Carla Loewen at ETPG in 2009 and 2026.
A living cycle: knowledge shared across generations

One of the most powerful aspects of the Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering is how knowledge moves across generations.

Vanessa Lillie, Director of Cultural Integration, now oversees the gathering and served as co-MC this year. She first attended the gathering when she was a student.

“I hope students carry a sense of pride in their culture, histories and communities,” she said.

A new generation is also stepping into that circle. First-year student Cyrus Maytwayashing of Lake Manitoba First Nation, volunteered at this year’s gathering and participated in land-based learning during a willow basket session.

Speaker Andrea Redsky reflected on the meaning of that exchange.

I learned this from my Elders who are no longer with us. By teaching it to you, that’s where the legacy begins.

Andrea Redsky, a session speaker at the 2026 ETPG

Similarly, during the Spirit of Language session, Elder Margaret Lavallee spoke about how language carries the voices of ancestors and teachings passed down through generations.

“The sacred legends are a philosophy — a way of life,” she said, describing teachings that stay with a person throughout their lifetime.

 

People seated and smiling in a classroom, while another person weaves a basket from thin branches on a table.
Participants sit at tables during an ETPG session as a presenter speaks beside a screen at the front of the room.
Two scenes from the 2026 Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering: speakers share a discussion on stage, and participants sit beside a ceremonial flame.
Over two days, more than a dozen sessions on Indigenous culture, history, and storytelling take place across UM’s Fort Garry campus.

Other sessions explored how Indigenous knowledge is preserved and shared across institutions. 

In a presentation titled Our Shared Cultural and Intellectual Heritage, Indigenous librarians discussed how libraries influence which knowledge is collected, preserved and made visible.

They noted that while universities have historically centred Western academic traditions, Indigenous histories, art and publications are increasingly being recognized and highlighted within academic collections.

Knowledge Keeper-in-Residence Deb Chaboyer encouraged participants to slow down and reconnect with one another.

“When we sit in a circle, our hearts are open and we can see each other’s vulnerability,” Deb said, noting that circle-based learning creates space for trust, understanding and healing.

Deb Chaboyer, Knowledge Keeper-in-Residence

An Elder speaks and gestures during a session at the Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering (ETPG).
Audience members of different ages sit at round tables, listening attentively during a session at the 2026 Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering.
Attendees stand and participate during a session.
As ETPG comes to a close, participants carry forward the teachings shared by Elders, beyond the gathering itself.
Join future gatherings

The Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering is held annually at the University of Manitoba, typically in late February or early March. Learn more about the gathering and upcoming events.

At UM, we are working together to advance reconciliation for transformative change, which is among the commitments you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.

By

Sue Wang