2026 ITIKI
Program & Detailed Schedule
Participant Information
ITIKI Gathering Registration Payment
Transportation to and from Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
For participants travelling to Victoria, British Columbia, by plane, transportation is not provided and will need to be arranged by your institution to the University of Victoria if you are staying in residences on campus, or hotels if you have arranged your own accommodations. The following options are available at the Victoria International Airport:
- Bluebird Cabs, Victoria Taxi and Yellow Cab of Victoria
- Uber
- Various car rental services (National, Budget, Thrifty, Hertz and Avis)
On-Campus Accommodations
For participants staying on campus in provided accommodations, the items included in the single dormitory room for guests are:
- One single bed including linens, pillow and pillowcase
- Towel
- Desk and chair
- Wardrobe
Check-in
Check-in begins at 3:00pm on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at the Residence Services Front Desk. Guests will be required to provide one piece of valid government issued photo ID at time of check-in.
Check-out
Check-out time is by 11:00am on Friday, July 31, 2026. Please remove all personal belongings from the room and return the keys to the Residence Services Front Desk to complete the check-out.
Location
Our Front Desk is located in the Craigdarroch Residence Services Office at 2473 Sinclair Rd for GPS purposes, beside UVic Parking Lot #5.
View the UVic Campus Map
Please note: Luggage storage will not be available at our Front Desk due to limited space.
Parking
Parking lot #5 is the closest lot to the Craigdarroch Office Building and is accessed using Sinclair Road. Parking lot #1 is the next closest lot to the Craigdarroch Office and is accessible via Ring Road.
View the UVic Parking Map
If you are parking a car at UVic, note that we are providing complimentary parking to conference participants. Please check your email for instructions and contact us if you have any questions.
Internet Access
Complimentary limited wireless internet access is provided, please visit the University Systems Site for details on limitations and restrictions.
The eduroam collaborative network allows students, faculty, and staff access to wireless services at cooperating universities without obtaining a guest account. Visiting users from other participating institutions can login to the eduroam wireless network using the same credentials they would at their home institution.
Information and Safety
At check-in, guests receive a QR code and URL link to access our UVic Visitor Information Package. This package includes important details and links such as building safety information, emergency and evacuation procedures, emergency contacts, key lockout instructions, housekeeping service, laundry and cleaning information, as well as things to do on campus, dining options, and local groceries and amenities. We ask all guests to review and familiarize themselves with the information provided.
Terms & Conditions and Community Guide
Guests must abide by the Community Standards as outlined in the Community Guide. The Community Standards, along with our Terms and Conditions, apply to all guest stays in residence.
View the Terms and Conditions
View the Community Guide
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns during your stay, please reach out to our team for support:
Lalita Kines, lalita@uvic.ca or +1 250-217-0458
Shayleen Mack, shayleenm4@uvic.ca +1 778-220-7646
About ITIKI
What is International Traditional Indigenous Knowledges Institute (ITIKI) Gathering?
ITIKI provides a land-based space for Indigenous knowledge holders, Indigenous leaders (both academic and cultural) and Indigenous graduate students from across the globe to gather and share traditional knowledges, praxis, ontologies and pedagogies by exercising inherent rights and implementing traditional ways of being, knowing, and doing through cross-cultural, reciprocal exchanges between Indigenous Nations and Peoples.
The International Traditional Indigenous Knowledges Institute (ITIKI) 2025 gathering was held in Australia from November 10-14, 2025, hosted by the University of Newcastle and The Wollotuka Institute on Awabakal, Worimi, and Darkinjung Country. It brought together Indigenous scholars, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers from Australia, Aotearoa (NZ), Canada, the US, and Peru.
The inaugural International Traditional Indigenous Knowledges Institute (ITIKI) Gathering brought together international academics, graduate students, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous leaders for a week of land-based learning near Saskatoon and Whitecap Dakota Nation, Saskatchewan.
Hosted by the First Nations University of Canada, the gathering built on the legacy of the 1998 “Voices of the Drum” Summer Institute and created space for reciprocal learning grounded in Indigenous ways of being, knowing, and doing. Participants from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States engaged in cultural teachings led by Elders and Knowledge Keepers, including traditional medicines, hide tanning, food preparation, and visits to important cultural sites.
The gathering fostered international relationships, experiential learning, and the creation of a global Indigenous graduate student cohort rooted in community, culture, and connection to the land.
The Artwork
The title of this design is g̱a̱lḵa'wiła̱la, a Kwakwala word that translates to “swimming across".
In this design, Nulis, Carey Newman, has represented the concept of ITIKI's theme "Sacredness of Land and Water" with the idea of water connecting us all, giving life, sustaining life.
The Artist
Carey Newman OBC, MSM, FRSC whose traditional name is Nulis, is a multi-disciplinary artist, carver, filmmaker, author, and scholar. Through his father, he is Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw and Coast Salish. Through his mother his ancestors are English, Irish, and Scottish Settlers. In his artistic practice he strives to highlight social, and environmental issues as he examines the impacts that colonialism and capitalism have on Indigenous people and culture.
Perhaps his most influential work, The Witness Blanket, made of items collected from residential schools, government buildings and churches across Canada, deals with the subject of Truth and Reconciliation. It is now part of the collection at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Newman is the inaugural Impact Chair of Indigenous Art Practices at the University of Victoria. In 2023 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Royal Roads University, and at a traditional ceremony in July 2025 he was transferred the name Nulis, making him a hereditary chief within the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw nation.
Follow @blueravenart
Indigenous Citizenship Declaration (ICD)
The intent of ITIKI is to bring Indigenous peoples together and we ask that all applying individuals provide supporting information for their indigeneity to affirm their eligibility to participate.
In the application for the 2026 ITIKI Gathering there are two options:
- If their current institution has an Indigenous Identity Protocol, we ask that individuals complete it and include it in their application.
- If their institution does not have an Indigenous Identity Protocol, then individual can apply for eligibility with the Indigenous Citizenship Declaration policy at the University of Victoria.
Please note: Elders/Knowledge Keepers will be exempt from the Indigenous Citizenship Declaration process.
What is the Indigenous Citizenship Declaration (ICD) Policy?
This policy affects how students apply for scholarships, awards, bursaries and opportunities intended for Indigenous People. To be eligible for these opportunities, you will be asked to share information that shows your connection or relationship with an Indigenous community. (Supports and special considerations are available to students who experience disconnection or challenging relationships with their Nation.) The information you share is confidential and used only to confirm your eligibility for Indigenous awards or other opportunities for which you apply.
The ICD Policy revises the eligibility criteria for Indigenous-specific opportunities that result in material gain. To be eligible for employment opportunities, awards, grants, and bursaries marked for Indigenous Peoples, applicants must provide (1) a declaration and (2) supporting information. Applications will be review in alignment with the ICD Policy and its Procedures (GV0810).
The ICD Policy affirms UVic’s commitment to uphold Indigenous laws and protocols, ensuring that the eligibility requirements for opportunities designated for Indigenous Peoples are consistent with the ways that Indigenous Nations, Peoples and Communities determine their citizenship. The Policy also recognizes the ways that colonialism has disrupted Indigenous legal orders and personal relations with families and communities, and the Policy provides an avenue for folks to demonstrate eligibility through an extended review process.
You can find more information about the ICD Policy and resources related to implementation on our webpage: uvic.ca/ovpi/icd.
Contact
For questions and inquiries regarding ITIKI 2026, please contact:
Lalita Kines, Director of Indigenous Strategic Priorities and Community Engagement