Hotels & Logistics
About Us
Nipikiskwasīwan National Summit 2026
Rekindling the Home Fire: Indigenous Pathways to Stronger Child & Family Systems
Join us as we gather around the Home Fire to strengthen Indigenous child and family systems.
April 8–9, 2026
Edmonton EXPO Centre
Edmonton, Alberta
Our Mission & Intent
The Nipikiskwasīwan Summit ignites the Home Fire of Indigenous child and family systems. We unite Nations, leaders, and frontline workers, empowering Nation-led approaches to fortify protections, cultivate warmth, and establish enduring safety and stability for our children and families.
Our Summit transforms dialogue into action, focusing on six pivotal streams to achieve our mission:
Advancing C-92 Implementation: Empowering Nations to fully exercise their inherent laws, models, and agreements.
Transforming Responses for High-Risk & Complex-Needs Youth: Designing safe, culturally anchored, and holistic wraparound supports.
Protecting Workforce Wellness: Nurturing the well-being of our helpers, mitigating burnout and moral injury.
Addressing Funding Pressures: Devising sustainable strategies for robust, Nation-led systems.
Strengthening Prevention & Kinship Pathways: Ensuring children remain deeply connected to family, community, and Nation.
Re-centering Land-Based, Culturally Grounded Care: Reclaiming the profound teachings of land, language, ceremony, and wahkohtowin.
These six vital streams converge, fueling one Home Fire: a strong, self-determined center where Nation-led decisions and ancestral teachings forever hold our children at its heart. The Summit is a catalyst for lasting change, igniting a future where every Indigenous child thrives in safety and belonging.
Speaker Spotlight
Prepare to be moved by the visionary leaders and esteemed knowledge-keepers converging at the Indigenous Child & Family Systems Renewal Summit. Each speaker offers profound insights, cultivating a powerful space for shared learning, vital collaboration, and decisive action to fortify our sacred systems.
Chief Tréchelle Bunn
Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation
We are deeply honored to welcome Chief Tréchelle Bunn as a Keynote Speaker at Nipikiskwasīwan: Indigenous Child & Family Systems Summit 2026. Her journey is defined by groundbreaking leadership and historic achievement:
  • Made history as the first woman elected Chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation.
  • Named the youngest serving Chief in Manitoba at the time of her election.
  • Spoken on national and international stages, including the AFN and the UN Human Rights Council.
Gilbert Fredette
(Norway House Cree Nation)
Gilbert James Fredette brings a wealth of experience championing Indigenous families, communities, and systems. A respected community voice and former Vice Chief, Gilbert masterfully weaves together lived experience, ancestral teachings, and practical service realities. His impactful contributions include:
  • Decades of experience working directly with Indigenous families, communities, and systems.
  • Serving as a respected community voice and former Vice Chief.
  • Shaping our understanding of strengthening family-centred services through the profound teaching of the home fire.
We’re honored to welcome more leaders and knowledge-holders in the weeks ahead. More announcements coming soon!
Who Should Attend
This Summit is for those who carry responsibility and care for Indigenous children, youth, and families. We welcome participants from all roles and sectors who are committed to strengthening Indigenous-led systems:
Child & Family Agencies
Indigenous Child & Family Service Agencies
Nation-Administered Services
DFNAs, Tribal Councils & Nation-administered services
Frontline Caregivers
Social workers, kinship & foster supports
Leadership & Management
Directors, Program Managers, Executive Directors & CEOs
Elders & Knowledge Keepers
Cultural and language practitioners
Community Health & Wellness
Mental health and addictions teams
Sector Partners
Justice, health, education, and housing sectors
Elected & Hereditary Leaders
Nation representatives
Youth Leaders & Advocates
Community members
Gathering With Us
We’re honored to be welcoming delegations from Nations and Indigenous child, youth, and family service agencies across Canada for Nipikiskwasīwan National Summit 2026 -Rekindling the Home Fire.
This gathering is being shaped by the people doing the work on the ground-leaders, frontline teams, and partners carrying the responsibility of keeping children connected to family, community, identity, and belonging.
Some of our delegates; and many more are on the way.

What to Expect
Keynote Sessions
Powerful presentations led by Elders, Nations, and respected leaders in Indigenous child and family well-being, sharing wisdom and vision for the path forward.
Breakout Workshops
Hands-on, practice-based sessions highlighting Nation-led and community-based models that are making real differences in children's lives.
Panel Conversations
Dynamic dialogues connecting policy, practice, lived experience, and cultural teachings in meaningful and transformative ways.
Land-Based & Cultural Offerings
Cultural teachings, and land-based practices to support grounding, wellness, and spiritual connection throughout the Summit.
Networking Spaces
Dedicated time and space for building relationships, forming partnerships, and exploring future collaborations across Nations and agencies.
Practical Tools & Resources
Take-home resources, frameworks, and tools you can immediately adapt and implement in your community, agency, or Nation.
🔥 Home Fire Artisan Market & Teachings
At the heart of the Nipikiskwasiwan National Summit is the Home Fire, a sacred space for nurturing relationships, sharing wisdom, and safeguarding the next generation. The Home Fire Artisan Market extends this principle, thoughtfully integrated into the Summit's flow.
The Market's Purpose
Far more than a traditional vendor area, this market honors Indigenous artists and makers as vital knowledge holders and carriers of culture. Each artisan shares their story and the profound teachings embedded in their work:
  • Who they are and where they come from
  • What they create and the teachings carried within those items
  • How their work supports children, families, land, and cultural continuity
Live Demonstrations & Teach-ins
Throughout the Summit, select artisans will lead live demonstrations and teach-ins, recreating the practice of learning at the Home Fire—where hands stay busy, stories are shared, and knowledge is passed through doing.
Reflecting Key Summit Themes:
  • Caring for those who care
  • Prevention and kinship pathways
  • Land-based and culturally grounded care
The Home Fire Artisan Market is a space to slow down, connect, and remember that strong systems are built through culture, connection, and shared responsibility, not solely through policy.
Call for Presentations
We invite passionate proposals from Nations, agencies, Elders, youth, practitioners, researchers, and community members eager to share their invaluable stories, insights, and wisdom. Your contributions are vital to shaping the Summit, and as a token of our appreciation, presenters will receive a reduced registration rate.
Submission Deadline: Extended to January 23rd, 2026
We Encourage Sessions That:
Showcase innovative Nation- or community-led models and effective approaches.
Highlight impactful land-based and cultural programs in practice.
Delve into C-92 implementation and evolving jurisdiction frameworks.
Address the complexities of high-needs and high-risk youth care.
Promote workforce wellness and leadership development within our communities.
Discuss critical themes of prevention, family reunification, and kinship support.
Bridge the gap between current practice, policy, and essential lived experience.
Registration Information
Registration Now Open! Early Bird Pricing Extended to January 23rd, 2026. All fees are in Canadian dollars (CAD).
Each registration includes:
  • Access to all plenaries and workshops on April 8–9, 2026
  • Cultural and wellness offerings
  • Daily refreshments
  • Networking and collaboration spaces
  • Digital access to selected materials and tools after the Summit
Pricing Details

If cost is a barrier for key people who need to be present such as Elders, youth, or small community agencies, please reach out to us. We are committed to ensuring that financial challenges do not prevent meaningful participation.
Vendors, Exhibitors & Sponsorship

We Welcome:
  • Indigenous artists, makers, and craftspeople
  • Community organizations and non-profits
  • Educational institutions and training programs
  • Wellness, healing, and cultural service providers
  • Government and for-profit organizations aligned with Indigenous child and family well-being
Sponsorship & Partnerships
Sponsorship and partnership support helps bring Elders and youth to the Summit, support participation from remote and under-resourced communities, provide wellness and cultural spaces, and strengthen the tools and resources we can offer to Nations and agencies.
We offer several sponsorship levels and themed opportunities including Elder and youth funds, wellness spaces, hospitality, and more. A detailed Sponsorship Package, including benefits and recognition, is available as a downloadable PDF.
To request the package or discuss a custom partnership, please contact: info@nipikiskwasiwan.com
Vendors & Exhibitors
Vendor and exhibitor spaces are limited to ensure a calm, relational environment that honors the spirit of the Summit. Details on setup, hours, and logistics will be provided upon confirmation.
Location & Stay Connected
Location
Edmonton EXPO Centre
Edmonton, Alberta
Further information on accommodation options, nearby hotels with conference rates, transit connections, and parking will be provided closer to the Summit dates.
Stay Connected
For updates on registration opening, Call for Presentations, speakers and agenda, vendor opportunities, and sponsorship options:
Email: info@nipikiskwasiwan.com
Tel: +1 780-914-9055
Follow us on social media for real-time updates and community engagement:
Nipikiskwasīwan National Summit 2026 is an invitation to sit together in a spirit of respect, to share what is working, to listen deeply, and to strengthen the circle of care around Indigenous children, youth, and families.
We speak with honesty. We lead with courage. We transform together.
About Us
Nipikiskwasīwan - We Speak
Nipikiskwasīwan means “We Speak.” It reflects our commitment to naming what is happening in Indigenous child and family systems and responding with care, clarity, and accountability.

We are a not-for-profit Indigenous organization (15061997 Canada Foundation), grounded in community and shaped by people who live this work every day, including Elders, frontline workers, youth, system navigators, and Nation-based leaders. We also work alongside trusted allies who show up with humility and walk in support, not ahead. Indigenous voices and priorities remain at the center of everything we do.
Nipikiskwasīwan exists to work in the spaces between intention and lived reality where jurisdiction is recognized but supports are uneven, and where families and workers are left to carry gaps alone. Our work focuses on strengthening the conditions that allow Indigenous children, families, and Nations to be supported safely and sustainably.
What We Do
National Gatherings & Summits
We convene purposeful gatherings that bring together Indigenous leaders, frontline workers, agencies, and partners to share knowledge, address real challenges, and move toward practical, Nation-driven solutions.
Systems & Governance Support
We provide hands-on support to Nations and organizations navigating systems change, particularly under Bill C-92. Our work bridges Indigenous values and external requirements - supporting governance, policy, and systems that are strong, durable, and aligned with community priorities.

Our approach reflects Two-Eyed Seeing in practice: keeping front-end realities visible while building back-end systems capable of carrying responsibility over time.
Our Belief
Every Indigenous child deserves to grow up surrounded by culture, supported by strong systems, and held by their people. This is the vision we carry and the work we invite others to walk alongside.
Our Mission
We walk alongside Indigenous communities to build systems, create space, and amplify solutions rooted in Indigenous knowledge.
Building Systems
Crafting sustainable frameworks that reflect Indigenous values and self-determination.
Creating Space
Fostering environments for dialogue, healing, and growth, guided by lived experience.
Amplifying Solutions
Highlighting and supporting community-led initiatives and self-determination.
At Nipikiskwasīwan, we believe Indigenous children deserve more than protection. They deserve to grow up surrounded by culture, held by family, and guided by the strength of their Nations.
Whether through national gatherings or quiet, behind-the-scenes support, we empower communities to lead, heal, and transform the systems around their children and families.
Our Values
Indigenous Voices First
Community priorities and Indigenous laws guide our work.
Walking With Care
We work through relationship, respect, and accountability.
Children at the Centre
Every decision is grounded in the wellbeing of Indigenous children.
Truth With Courage
We name what's happening so real change can take root.
From Intention to Practice
We focus on solutions that can be carried and sustained.
Culture as Foundation
Land, language, law, and community teachings are essential.
Our Advisory Circle
The Advisory Council anchors Nipikiskwāsīwan 2026 in community priorities and lived realities. Council members bring wisdom, community based perspectives, frontline insight, and practical guidance to help ensure the Summit remains relevant, accountable, and grounded in what families, workers, and communities need now.
GILBERT FREDETTE
(Norway House Cree Nation)
Gilbert James Fredette is a proud Cree/Innu leader from Norway House Cree Nation whose work sits at the intersection of community healing, justice, and the wellbeing of children and families. Rooted in both lived experience and public service, he brings a grounded, straight-talking perspective on what it takes to rebuild safety and belonging where it matters most- at home, in community, and across systems.
Gilbert served his Nation as Vice Chief/Councillor and continues to advocate for solutions that are not symbolic, but practical and locally anchored. In recent work, he has spoken openly about the harms of “fly-in, fly-out” approaches and the urgent need for community-rooted supports that protect dignity and keep families from being pulled deeper into crisis.
He also brings depth as a storyteller and researcher. Gilbert has earned three degrees from the University of Manitoba - two Bachelor of Arts degrees and a Master’s degree and his graduate research documented the lived realities facing youth in Norway House Cree Nation, refusing to reduce young people’s lives to statistics and instead centering truth, context, and community responsibility. His digital story “Within Me” is part of a national project on intergenerational impacts of residential schools, reflecting his commitment to truth-telling that leads to healing.
At Nipikiskwasīwan 2026, Gilbert will share the teaching he learned from an Elder: “re-igniting our home fires.” It’s a powerful, practical way of naming what communities need, resources, healing, wraparound supports, and relational responsibility so children and families can thrive, and so helpers are not left carrying the weight alone.
Our Governance Circle
Nitanis Group's leadership team embodies a unique blend of experience and commitment, driving our mission to provide unparalleled, culturally grounded care. Their combined strengths have secured our position as a leader in Indigenous youth services.
CHARLOTTE GIBBS
(Pelican Lake First Nation)
Governance Circle - Community, Systems & Indigenous Governance
Charlotte Gibbs is an indigenous professional with extensive experience across Indigenous child and family services, community-based programs, and systems navigation. Her work is grounded in close relationships with families, frontline teams, and community partners, giving her a clear sense of how policies and programs show up in everyday practice.
Alongside Lorraine Mlambo, Charlotte works at Nitanis (indigenous owned and led child and youth group care organization), where their combined efforts supported the organization in achieving 100% compliance under the Canadian Accreditation Council, including the Enhanced Indigenous Designation, an outcome held by a limited number of organizations nationally. This work reflects Two-Eyed Seeing in practice: keeping front-end realities visible while strengthening the systems that support them.
Charlotte also serves as a regulatory accreditation reviewer, bringing practical insight into how standards are assessed and meaningfully embedded. Within the Governance Circle, she helps ensure the Summit stays connected to lived experience, operational realities, and the needs of families and frontline workers.
LORRAINE MLAMBO

Governance Circle - Legal, Structural & Strategic Frameworks
Lorraine Mlambo is a member of the Law Society of Alberta, and child welfare lawyer with extensive experience advocating for Indigenous families in court systems, including the application and enforcement of Bill C-92. She has advocated for and reunited many indigenous children families, in Alberta's court system. Her work at the intersection of provincial legislation, federal reform, and frontline service delivery gives her grounded insight into barriers and opportunities for aligning systems with community needs.

Together with Charlotte Gibbs, Lorraine helped achieve 100 % compliance in Canadian Accreditation Council standards, for Nitanis (an indigenous only owned and led child and youth group home)including the Enhanced Indigenous Designation , an example of Two-Eyed Seeing in practice, where Indigenous perspectives and Western systems are balanced in service of community outcomes. In the Governance Circle, Lorraine focuses on regulatory clarity, structural planning, coordination, and systems design that support durable, accountable frameworks aligned with the Summit’s purpose.
Land Acknowledgement
We gather for Nipikiskwasīwan 2026 in Edmonton on Treaty 6 Territory, on the lands of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, and Nakota Sioux peoples, and in the homeland of the Métis Nation of Alberta.

As we come together to re-imagine child, youth, and family systems, we do so with humility and gratitude, honouring the original stewards of this place. May this gathering help re-ignite the Home Fire-strengthening kinship, safety, and belonging for generations to come.
Hotels & Logistics
Ensuring your comfort and convenience is a priority for Nipikiskwasīwan 2026. We've compiled essential information regarding accommodation options, travel arrangements, and local insights to make your summit experience seamless. Find details on partner hotels, transportation guides, and important notes in our comprehensive logistics PDF.