Inspired by the values of respect, truth, and solidarity, this event will mark a significant milestone in collectively reaffirming our commitment to moving toward a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future. We have gathered to assess the progress of the initiative we have undertaken.
Preliminary Program
Full details regarding themes and activities will be available shortly. Keep an eye on this page and our communications across various platforms for updates; we also invite you to sign up for the INFO-NFTR 2026 newsletter.
Schedule
|
Day 1 - June 10 2026 |
Day 2 - June 11 2026 |
Day 3 - June 12 2026 |
| Morning | Welcome of participants |
Morning | Welcome of participants |
Morning | Welcome of participants |
| Opening ceremony - remarks by AFNQL regional Chief - remarks by the honorary chair - Tribute to residential school survivors |
First Nations self-determination in education: from Manitou and Kiuna to the house of knowledge |
Winds of change: women and the future of inclusive, engaged Leadership |
| Break |
Break |
Break |
| Sowing the seeds of change: Our commitments in motion |
First Nations research protocols: a catalyst for self-determination |
Closing ceremony |
| Lunch |
Lunch |
Noon: end of the 2026 national building reconciliation Forum |
| Afternoon | decolonizing research: The rise of indigenous knowledge in graduate studies |
Blazing new trails: collaborative innovation as the future of research |
| Break |
Break |
| Shaping the caregivers of tomorrow: A pathway toward inclusive medicine |
Puamun Meshkenu and the great gathering |
| 4:30 p.m. | End of day 1 |
4:30 pm | End of day 2 - free time before the banquet at 6 p.m. |
| Dinner on your own |
6 p.m. Banquet |
Banquet – June 11, 2026
Let us conclude the day with a meaningful and authentic experience at a banquet celebrating the richness of Indigenous cuisine. The evening will continue with a first musical performance by soprano Élisabeth St-Gelais, offering a moment marked by sensitivity and power. She will be followed by the Innu group MATEN, from Mani-utenam, who will close the banquet with a musical performance that will energize the room with music deeply rooted in Innu culture.
ÉLISABETH ST-GELAIS
An Innu from the community of Pessamit and originally from Saguenay, Elisabeth places great importance on sharing her culture through her artistic mission. She is committed to reconciliation among Indigenous Peoples in Canada and proudly represents the Innu of the Côte-Nord, her Nation. The soprano advocates for reconciliation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples across Canada by including Indigenous works in her repertoire. You will have the opportunity to discover her artistry.
MATEN
Maten, formed by Samuel Pinette, Mathieu Mckenzie, and Kim Fontaine, Maten is an Innu band from Mani-utenam on Quebec’s North Shore, rooted between the shores of the St. Lawrence River and the boreal forest.
Respected by their peers and recognized by the public for many years (nominated at the 2019 ADISQ Gala), Maten presents a fourth album with a confident, festive alternative folk-rock sound. One of the band’s defining characteristics is their commitment, expressed through their lyrics, to their community, their language, and their Innu roots. Their songs convey their values and culture, as well as pride in their identity. The message is strong and direct—forward-looking yet grounded in reality—addressing the challenges that communities continue to face.
