International Indigenous Music Summit 2025 details the daytime programming for this year’s gathering in Tkaronto, June 2-6, and welcomes Rhoda Roberts as the 2025 Keynote Speaker. A member of the Bundjalung nation, Widjabul clan, Roberts is an Officer of the Order of Australia, the Creative Director for Parrtjima Festival (NT), Boomerang Dreaming (NSW), and Shine on Gimuy (Cairns), as well as the First Nations Advisor for Vivid Sydney. Previous roles include the former Head of First Nations Programming at the Sydney Opera House and founder of the Dreaming Festivals (1995-2009).
Beyond her many roles and achievements, Roberts has a special connection to the Summit’s origin. In 2018, Digging Roots played Woodford Festival and met Roberts, along with a number of other Indigenous performers and producers. “The conversation we had that day was full of life and inspiration, shared experience and wisdom,” says Summit co-founder ShoShona Kish. “It was during that conversation that I first imagined the Summit. I wanted my colleagues at home and around the world to have that same experience of camaraderie and inspiration. A year later, we hosted our first gathering in Montreal.”
Daytime programming runs throughout the week, June 2-6, 2025, centered at TD Music Hall. This year’s conference program features artists and speakers from Indigenous nations around the world – groundbreakers, innovators, and change-makers alike – alongside key music industry professionals. With future-focused topics including “Medicine for Identity, Sovereignty and Belonging,” “Indigenous-Led Change,” “Auntie’s Language Council” and “AI and Creative Sovereignty,” the IIMS 2025 brings leaders and builders of the Indigenous music ecosystem together for timely and meaningful conversations.
IIMS 2025 speakers include curator/creative producer Denise Bolduc, Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache (Digging Roots), Keziah Myers (Advance Music Canada), artist Marek Tyler, artist The Kaptain, music supervisor Rick Clark (Dark Winds) and many more. Select daytime programming is intended for Indigenous delegates only.
The Opening Night Gala includes performances by Tanya Tagaq, Northern Cree, Alex Kusturok and Sara Curruchich, with a special appearance by Elder Gerard Sagassige and Nimkii Osawamick. The Opening Night Gala, hosted by Chelazon Leroux, takes place June 2, 2025 at TD Music Hall. Tickets are included in full IIMS 2025 registration packages or as a standalone purchase here.
The Summit’s 2025 theme is Bemaazhid E-Niigaanzijig, an Anishinaabe phrase which means “Soaring Together as Leaders.” The theme orients this year’s program with a mindset of ‘we are all stronger together’ and the collective work of raising and uniting the global Indigenous community. Driven by the Summit’s commitment to collaboration and mutual benefit as the foundation to a thriving Indigenous music ecology, Bemaazhid E-Niigaanzijig sets a table with space for everyone.