Indigenous tech conference aims to break down silos in Canada

The Indigenous Tech Circle will hold its first Indigenous Tech Conference in Vancouver on Jan. 20–21 with more than 250 expected, aiming to connect Indigenous founders, professionals, investors and partners.

The Indigenous Tech Circle is holding its first Indigenous Tech Conference on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel. ITC expects more than 250 Indigenous founders, tech professionals, investors, community partners, allies, and policymakers to attend. The organization began in 2021 as a small gathering and has grown into a national, Indigenous-led not-for-profit network. ITC says the event aims to connect Indigenous people in tech and break down silos. Key details: - Dates and location: Jan. 20–21 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Vancouver. - Organizer and founder: Indigenous Tech Circle (ITC), founded by Métis entrepreneur Ryan St. Germaine. - Expected attendance: more than 250 Indigenous founders, tech professionals, investors, community partners, allies, and policymakers. - Programming highlights: panels on data sovereignty and AI, workshops on public relations and investment readiness, founder showcases, and a reveal of finalists for the Indigenous Venture Challenge (a $50,000 initiative). - Speakers mentioned in the article include Bobbie Racette, Anita Pawluk, Shauna McAllister, and Jeff Ward. Summary: The conference aims to highlight Indigenous innovation in Canadian tech and to encourage greater collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the ecosystem. ITC intends for this to become its annual flagship gathering and to connect current Indigenous tech leaders with the next generation. The event also raises topics such as AI and data-infrastructure as areas of both risk and opportunity for Indigenous communities. The inaugural conference will take place Jan. 20–21, and the Indigenous Venture Challenge finalists will be revealed during the event.