What is the Indigenous Production Summit?

In the 2025-2027 Independent Production Agreement (IPA), ACTRA, the CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association) and AQPM (The Association Québécoise de la Production Médiatique) agreed to establish a committee with the mandate to discuss Indigenous Productions, and organize a summit between Indigenous Producers and Indigenous Performers.

The Indigenous Production Summit exists to bring together Indigenous performers, producers, creators, and industry partners for open, respectful, and solutions-focused dialogue on the realities of Indigenous production in Canada, with the goal of creating a Framework for Action intended for for CMPA/AQPM and ACTRA to implement under the IPA, if mutually agreed.

ACTRA is seeking approximately 15-20 Indigenous ACTRA members from across the country to represent ACTRA at the Indigenous Production Summit.

More specifically, we are seeking Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) ACTRA members who:

• are ACTRA members in good standing;
• are available November 9-10, 2026 to participate in two full-day sessions in Winnipeg (with travel November 8, for those travelling from outside of Winnipeg)

Please note that members who have worked on at least one production that featured Indigenous storylines, themes, characters etc. under the ACTRA IPA or BCMPA will be prioritized.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I participate in the Indigenous Production Summit?

• ACTRA is currently accepting Expressions of Interest from Indigenous ACTRA members in good standing who are interested in attending the Summit. If you are interested in attending, please fill in the Expression of Interest form linked at the bottom of this webpage by Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.
• Please note that submitting an expression of interest DOES NOT guarantee your attendance at the Summit, as ACTRA delegate space is limited and must be shared across all ACTRA branches.

Where and when will the Summit take place?

• The Summit will take place in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 9 and 10. Participants travelling from outside of Winnipeg will travel on November 8 and depart the evening of November 10.

Is there a cost to participate in the Summit?

• If selected to participate in the Summit, all applicable costs will be covered by ACTRA (return travel to Winnipeg, accommodations, and meals).

If not selected to participate in the Summit by ACTRA, can I purchase a ticket to attend?

• Unfortunately there will not be tickets sold to attend The Summit.

Do I need to self-identify as Indigenous to participate?

• Yes, you must self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) to participate in the Indigenous Production Summit, as one of the key tenets is to bring Indigenous performers and producers together for important discussion.
• For the purposes of determining Indigenous Identity for participation in the Summit, ACTRA has adopted the Indigenous Screen Office’s Policies and Processes for Eligibility in Relation to Indigenous Identity.

What criteria is being used to select participants?

The participants will be selected based on the following evaluation criteria:

• ACTRA Membership – ACTRA will only select ACTRA members in good standing to participate in the Summit.
• Representation – We must ensure that there is appropriate representation from each ACTRA branch, as well as that as many Indigenous groups / Indigenous nations as possible are included.
• Lived Experience – The discussions that will take place at the Summit will center around experiences on productions that have featured Indigenous storylines, themes, characters etc. under the ACTRA IPA or UBCP/ACTRA BCMPA agreements. As such, the work experience and lived experience as an Indigenous Performer in a unionized work environment is an important consideration for how participants will be selected.

Who will be selecting the participants?

• A minimum of three Indigenous assessors will review all expressions of interest, working alongside ACTRA staff to select the participants.

When will I find out if I have been selected to participate in the Summit?

ACTRA will be in touch with all individuals who have expressed interest in the Summit by mid-October 2026.

To Express your Interest in attending the Indigenous Production Summit, please fill in this form no later than September 17, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.

Questions?

Please contact Jenn Paul – jpaul@actra.ca – Please allow 48-72 hours for a response, and/or, join one of the following upcoming meetings:
Summit Info Session – September 8, 2026 – 1-2pm ET – Register Here
National Indigenous Committee Meeting – September 16, 2026 – 1-2:30pm ET – Register Here