Indigenous Peoples Weekend has been made possible by artists, Knowledge Keepers, community partners, donors, volunteers, and past public funders.
IPW 2026 funding is not yet confirmed. The 2026 program is being built through a mixed-revenue plan including grant applications, ticketed events, partner support, donations, in-kind contributions, and community sponsorship.
Confirmed 2026 funders, partners, and sponsors will be listed here as agreements are finalized.
The organizations below supported IPW or related programming in previous years; their inclusion does not imply confirmed support for 2026.
Home to more than 450 Indigenous residents — including rights holders and community members from across Turtle Island and Hawaiʻi — Salt Spring Island is a vibrant gathering place. The festival draws performers and audiences from Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, and through our partnership with Tour des Îles, its impact is felt across Mayne, Pender, and Saturna Islands.
Supporting this event offers your organization a powerful opportunity to invest in Indigenous community, culture, and visibility, while demonstrating a meaningful and actionable commitment to reconciliation.
We would be happy to discuss sponsorship and partnership options with you. Please contact Kaen Valoise, IPW Director, at indigenouspeoplesweekend@gmail.com to arrange a call or meeting.
Beyond institutional support, IPW is held up by individuals who give what they can. Some give time, some give money, some give space in their home for visiting artists. Every contribution matters and is held with care. Become a supporter.
We are a volunteer-run organization and rely on community support to make this event possible. This year we are offering even more than ever before — and as such, we need more support than ever before. If you would like to invest in Indigenous community, culture, and visibility, while demonstrating a meaningful and actionable commitment to reconciliation, please consider donating. No amount is too small. Every dollar helps.
The Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust is able to provide tax receipts for donations over [amount to be confirmed]. You can pay by e-transfer to ipw@farmlandtrust.org, or by credit card.
Volunteering is a great way to show your support and be part of this gathering. We need volunteers for a range of jobs, including greeting guests and wayfinding, helping with set up or tear down, collecting donations, and driving guests. There are many ways to get involved.
Please complete this volunteer application and we will follow up with you about where your time and skills can best be used.
Once again, we will be inviting performers and Knowledge Keepers from across BC — and depending on funding, perhaps further. We are always grateful for Salt Spring Islanders' generosity in offering space for our visiting guests.
If you are able to host a guest or family, please contact Kaen Valoise, IPW Director, at indigenouspeoplesweekend@gmail.com. Let us know if you are also able to provide meals and transportation, as some guests may need those as well. This is a meaningful way to get involved and to get to know our Indigenous relations.
The following organizations supported IPW or related Sweetgrass programming in 2025. This does not imply confirmed funding or partnership for IPW 2026.
Supporter of Indigenous-led community work in BC.
Arts & Culture Support Service.
Salt Spring Island.
Indigenous Priorities Fund.
Sweetgrass Arts and Music Society of Salt Spring Island presents IPW. The gathering is held up by community partners who provide volunteers, venues, and collaborative support. We carry their work with deep gratitude.
Community partner. FLT supports IPW with volunteers and farm donations for the Elders Feast, and serves as a fiscal partner for charitable giving.
Community partner. ArtSpring hosts the Indigenous Art Show through July 3.
Venue partner and main home base for IPW 2026 weekend programming.
Past community partner who has supported IPW's place-based and cultural programming on the island.
Confirmed funders and donors for IPW 2026 will be listed here as we finalize acknowledgements with each contributor.
These venues have hosted IPW programming in past years. Confirmed venues for IPW 2026 will be announced as agreements are finalized.
Main home base for IPW 2026 weekend programming.
Story time, book launches, and Knowledge Keeper talks.
Workshops and artist demonstrations.
Music programming.
Friday evening music.
Inter-island event venue.
Performance space.
Each year IPW is held up by dozens of partners — Indigenous Societies, farms, businesses, faith communities, and island institutions who contribute time, space, food, expertise, and goodwill. The posters below acknowledge our 2024 and 2025 supporters. Click any poster to see it full-size.
The IPW logo, an orca pod, was created by Indigenous artist Charlene Johnny. The colour treatment changes each year. We are honoured to carry her work forward.
The photographs across this site are by Christopher Roy, Wildlight Creative, Safiya Labelle, Chris Marshall, Pam Tarr, and other community contributors. All rights remain with the photographers.
If your organization or foundation would like to support IPW 2026 or future years, we would be glad to talk. Sweetgrass works transparently and reports back to every funder.
For individual donations: charitable donations to IPW can be directed through Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust, our fiscal partner for charitable giving.
IPW 2026 takes place on Salt Spring Island, within the ancestral and unceded homelands of Hul’q’umi’num and SENĆOŦEN-speaking Coast Salish peoples, including Nations with deep cultural, historical, and ongoing relationships to these lands and waters.
