The Forks

Many Nations, One Heartbeat ᐊᐧᐦᑯᐦᑐᐃᐧᐣ Wáhkóhtowin: National Indigenous Peoples Day

Following the flow of the river and the path of ancestors, the first day of the 11-day celebration, Many Nations, One Heartbeat ᐊᐧᐦᑯᐦᑐᐃᐧᐣ Wáhkóhtowin, opens with a sacred fire and welcomes everyone into a day of ceremony, remembrance, and resilience. 

Today’s activities include a community powwow, Indigenous artist performances, art activations, markets/food trucks, children and youth activities, culture-sharing talks, a skateboarding and spray-paint demonstration, and more. 

Led by Treaty 1 Elders, youth, and knowledge keepers, the day will honour Residential School and Sixties Scoop Survivors, celebrate Indigenous languages and traditions, and offer healing-centred and celebratory programming. This day is rooted in truth, kinship, and respect.

Here's the line-up for National Indigenous Peoples Day:

Oodena Circle

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM	All Nations Welcoming Ceremony
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM	Scavenger Hunt
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Two Spirit Teachings with Chance Paupanekis
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Kids and Audience Drumming: Interactive drumming experience led by Elder Barbara Nepinak
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM	Smudge and Closing Ceremony

Around Oodena Circle

11:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Turtle Island Games: Classic lawn games reimagined through an Indigenous lens

The Canopy

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM	Drag Me to Brunch: Drag Show with Bannock Babes
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Seventh Generation Stage: Indigenous music featuring KD, Dakota Merasty, Jersey Wilbysayer and Along The Lines

Outside Turtle Tours

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Indigenous Farming in Manitoba: Discover the history of Indigenous farming in Manitoba through artifacts, storytelling and archeological research

Teepee (CN Field)

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM	Wáhkóhtowin Circle: Sharing led by Michael Redhead Champagne
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM	Inuit Sharing Circle: Join the circle led by Elder Martha Peet
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Métis Beading Circle: Learn the basics of beadwork and create your own beaded project to take home led by Melanie Gamache of Borealis Beading

Skate Park 

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Pihtikwé: Decked Out: Skateboard demonstrations and spray painting

CN Stage & Field

12:00 PM- 5:00 PM	Wáhkóhtowin Powwow sponsored by the Southern Chiefs’ Organization: Dancer registration from 11AM-12PM, Grand Entry at 12PM. Please note, invited drums only.
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM	Emcee Aqqalu Meekis and Live Music featuring Burnstick, Cassidy Mann and Ila Barker

Pathways (around CN Stage and connecting Oodena) 

11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Indigenous Handmade Market and Food Vendors

 

*Schedule and programming subject to change.

**This event is part of Many Nations, One Heartbeat ᐊᐧᐦᑯᐦᑐᐃᐧᐣ Wáhkóhtowin daily programming from June 21-July 1, 2026. Click here to view the full rundown of programming.

Visitors are encouraged to leave the car at home and bike, walk, paddle, take Winnipeg Transit, or carpool or rideshare to The Forks on National Indigenous Peoples Day.

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada. 

10:30 AM - 9:00 PM

Location: Multiple Locations

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