Indigenous Languages Program
WAVES Summit celebrates the work of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities
The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages held its inaugural on August 11-14, 2025. Several faculty, students and alumni from the Indigenous Languages Program of the Department of Linguistics at SFU presented research at the summit.
Over 2,500 people were in attendance at this landmark conference. See the for a full list of the presentations.
Welcome message from Stsme虂l虛qen, Dr. Ronald E. Ignace, Commissioner:
鈥淲elcome to WAVES 2025, the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages鈥� 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, M茅tis, 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.鈥�