Order Your FREE Passes Today
WAVES 2025 Global Indigenous Languages Summit is a historic opportunity to bring people together. In this time of economic uncertainty, the Commission is doing our part to make things more affordable by waiving the registration fee. Please use this link to register for your summit access pass and take advantage of travel and hotel discounts.
As a Commission, we continue to champion that Indigenous languages are vital, and the work to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen them needs an all-Canada approach. We invite people from across the country and around the world to join us in Ottawa from August 11-14, 2025 for 4 days of music, celebration and dialogue to bring Indigenous languages out of the shadows and into the light.
One opening evening. Three full days. Three powerful themes
• Land & Language • Technology & Language • Community & Language
All-Access Pass
Now FREE to attend ($0)
This general Pass provides full access to all events on the WAVES 2025 schedule.
Cancellation Policy:
• Before June 1: Hotel room is fully refunded
• Between June 1 and July 6: Attendee will pay for 1 night of the hotel accommodation
• July 7 until event date: Cancellation of your registration will result in a $100 cancellation fee being charged to the credit card provided on your registration form. Hotel accommodations are non-refundable.
Youth All-Access Pass
(Ages 25 and under)
Now FREE to attend ($0)
This Youth Pass provides full access to all events on the WAVES 2025 schedule.
Cancellation Policy:
• Before June 1: Hotel room is fully refunded
• Between June 1 and July 6: Attendee will pay for 1 night of the hotel accommodation
• July 7 until event date: Cancellation of your registration will result in a $100 cancellation fee being charged to the credit card provided on your registration form. Hotel accommodations are non-refundable.
Please note that all attendees need to register in advance for this event.
Families are welcome, but child care is not provided.
Global Indigenous Languages Summit
Rogers Centre Ottawa, August 11-14, 2025
Welcome message from Stsmél̓qen, Ronald E. Ignace, Commissioner
Welcome to WAVES 2025, the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages’ first Global Indigenous Languages Summit. Hosted on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Peoples, this event celebrates the work of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. It brings together language champions and supporters worldwide, including Elders, Knowledge Keepers, youth, researchers, and leading Indigenous artists and performers.
WAVES 2025 is an immersive and interactive mix of main stage keynotes, workshops, panel discussions, collaborative and public spaces, social networking events, an experiential tradeshow, Indigenous art, music, dance, and cultural performances.
This is your opportunity to stand with a multitude of Indigenous nations, languages, and cultures and join the waves of voices committed to bringing Indigenous Languages out of the shadows and into the light.
Register now to share your voice and inspire new thinking, facilitate conversations and connections, and drive ambitious solutions and actions toward revitalizing and strengthening Indigenous languages in Canada and worldwide.
WAVES 2025 is the place where words can create a new world.
WAVES 2025 Agenda
Our Hosts & Speakers
Many of the biggest names in Indigenous Languages revitalization come together in an engaging fashion at WAVES 2025
to inspire new thinking and drive ambitious solutions around three major themes: Traditional Ecological Knowledges, Technology, and
Community – all with one goal: to bring Indigenous Languages out of the shadows and into the light.
Join them in Ottawa this August.
Many more speakers and panelists will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
Follow us on social media and come back to this site to find out more!
World-Class Performances
Waves 2025 showcases diverse Indigenous languages and cultures from across Canada, and celebrates the creativity of outstanding First Nations, Métis and Inuit musicians, artists, actors, writers, poets designers, and dancers. Join them in Ottawa this August.
More headline entertainers will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
Follow us on social media and come back to this site to find out more!
7Gen Youth Space
Young people from across the country have said they need a place to network, to share their voices, and to tackle issues that are important to them. The 7Gen Youth Space at Waves 2025 is just that.
This space will shine a spotlight on key social media influencers, youth advocates and youth-oriented programming. Guest speakers will take to the stage to showcase careers in indigenous languages and talk about how they got there. Whether you are a young person or have young people in your family, this is a unique, can't miss space at WAVES 2025.
The Commission is inspired by the energy of young people and their commitment to learning Indigenous languages. Come celebrate and network together.
We will continue to announce special guests in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
