Witness contemporary dance by Indigenous women at Matriarchs Uprising 2026.

Presented by O.Dela Arts in partnership with The Dance Centre, this festival gathers choreographers from across Canada, Australia and New Zealand to share their expressions of dance in an exciting week of performances, talks, and community workshops.

Curated by Olivia C. Davies, the 2026 festival program opens with the long-awaited Western Canada premiere of Wahsipekuk: Au-delà des montagnes by Wolastoq and Quebecois artist Ivanie Aubin-Malo. Ktunaxa choreographer, Samantha Sutherland, shares her latest work, ʔa·kinq̓uku in a double bill with carriers and keepers of the ancestral portals from Sophie Dow and Beany John. Sandra Lamouche brings Out of Wounds followed by Ngambaa, by Australian Indigenous choreographer Amelia O’Leary.

On February 21, there is a studio preview of Michelle Olson’s newest work in development, where did you go, and the festival performance program closes with Matriarchs from Australian Indigenous choreographer, Olivia Adams. IndigiDance on Screen returns with five short dance films by Indigenous women, available on-demand all week on the festival website.

The signature Talking Truths Circle Conversations invite audiences to witness festival artists speaking their truth, while the Gathering Hope performance sharing at Morrow offers an invitation to witness Vancouver-based Indigenous story-keepers and dance artists in an improvised score for dance and story-weaving. A closing night reception features musical guests, Tsimka and Michael Red.