Ottawa's Minoshkite Indigenous Music & Arts Festival holds its fourth edition on November 22 and 23, 2026, and for the first time spreads across two rooms: Club SAW on the Sunday and the Bronson Centre on the Monday. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with $10 suggested, and the money raised goes to the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund.

What does the name mean?

In Algonquin, "Minoshkite" (pronounced mee-no-shkeet) means "music to the ears." The festival is put on by the Downie & Wenjack Fund with SUPERCONNECTED, an Indigenous-owned artist management company and label, and Canada's Music Incubator. Club SAW, the Bronson Centre and the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition lend support, and public backing comes from the Canada Council for the Arts and a federal arts presentation fund.

Why you should go

  • A different bill each night. Aysanabee, Shawnee Kish, ASPECTS and AIYANA play Club SAW on November 22; The Halluci Nation, Wolf Saga, SIIBII and LOR take the Bronson Centre stage on November 23.
  • One host for both evenings. Theland Kicknosway, a hoop dancer, speaker and storyteller of Anishinaabe and Cree heritage, emcees each night.
  • Artists from across the country. The lineup draws Indigenous performers from different regions and styles.
  • A low ticket barrier. Visitors decide what to pay, and both nights welcome all ages.
  • The proceeds have a purpose. Funds support the Downie & Wenjack Fund's work, in the year the Secret Path project marks a decade.

What to know before you go

Day 1 at Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St., runs from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, November 22. Day 2 at the Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Ave., opens doors at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 23; that show is all ages and licensed. Tickets are sold separately for each date, so check the date before paying, and admission is first come, first served. The organizers say the festival also includes student and community programming run by the fund.

FAQ

When is the Minoshkite Indigenous Music & Arts Festival?

It takes place over two nights, November 22, 2026 at Club SAW and November 23, 2026 at the Bronson Centre, both in Ottawa.

How much are tickets?

Admission is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested $10 ticket, and all proceeds go to the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. Contact the organizers for availability.