The Making a Life, Making a Living / Se faire une vie, gagner sa vie Conference began on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, with an optional, ticketed pre-opening afternoon tour led by Lewis Cardinal at kihcihkaw askî – Sacred Land in Edmonton’s Whitemud Park. This ceremonial visit honoured Indigenous connections to the land and set a meaningful tone for the gathering.

Later in the day, attendees transitioned to the evening reception at The Matrix Hotel, where registration took place alongside live music by Evan Westfal, creating a welcoming and warm environment.

The reception featured a sequence of opening remarks and introductions. Elder Richard Jenkins ceremonially opened the conference. The event was emceed by Cheyenne Mihko Kihêw and included acknowledgments from Dr. Glynnis Lieb and Dr. Anne-José Villeneuve, along with government and CQCC representatives and other team members. Live music by Emmet Michael accompanied the informal networking session.

On Thursday, November 13, the full conference programming commenced at the University of Alberta. After breakfast at the hotel venues, Dr. André McDonald served as M.C. for the morning sessions, while Dr. Anne-José Villeneuve served as M.C. for the afternoon sessions. Attendees participated in a full day of sessions, including keynotes and panels.

To reflect the wide-ranging expertise and perspectives represented in the Call for Proposals—which had invited submissions from five domains: University, Community Member, Collective, Government, and Business—the conference featured three concurrent thematic streams.

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• Academic and Research Stream;

• Community-Led and Collective Initiatives Stream; and

• Public Sector and Business Engagement Stream.

Although some details of the morning and afternoon speakers remained tentative, the day offered a robust schedule, with coffee breaks and lunch provided. The evening wrapped up in a lively and social way with a trivia and drag event at Evolution Wonderlounge in downtown Edmonton

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The final half-day of the Making a Life, Making a Living / Se faire une vie, gagner sa vie Conference, Saturday, November 15, began with breakfast followed by a morning session including a keynote address and closing remarks. Elder Richard Jenkins returned to ceremonially close the conference. The event concluded with light entertainment, offering a thoughtful and engaging end to the four-day gathering. Through its blend of academic insight, cultural celebration, and community connection, the Making a Life, Making a Living / Se faire une vie, gagner sa vie Conference brought together diverse voices and experiences to engage in critical conversations, connection, and joyful moments.

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