The 2026 festival expands its program with a Métis Kitchen Party, Indigenous art showcase, traditional dance, storytelling, workshops, a Water Walk and a special screening of The Apology: A Search for Justice.
This fall, Almonte will once again become a meeting place for art, culture, music and history as Reconciliation Through Art 2026 returns with an expanded four-day program marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Now entering its third year, the event has grown from its first two successful editions and will offer more opportunities for families and visitors to experience Indigenous art, music, food, teachings and history. This year’s programming takes place September 27 and October 2 to 4, with most events free and open to the public.
The organizers have also shifted much of the programming to weekend dates, making it easier for families and visitors from Ottawa, Lanark County and surrounding communities to attend.
The festival opens on Sunday, September 27, with an afternoon of traditional Métis dance led by Riley McKenzie of the acclaimed Métis dance troupe Prairie Fire. The family friendly workshop takes place from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Almonte Old Town Hall and is open to all ages.
Then, on Friday, October 2, the festival moves into a more celebratory mood with a Traditional Métis Kitchen Party at the North Lanark Agricultural Hall. Running from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. or later, the evening combines food, music and dance in a celebration of Métis culture.
The evening begins with boulette y bang, a traditional meatball stew served with bannock, followed by a performance by the Edmonton Traditional Métis Dancers. Juno-nominated singer and songwriter Amanda Rheaume and the Mâmawin’towin Band will provide the music, joined by old-time fiddlers Jason Lepine and Lionel Desjarlais.
Guests can also enjoy jigging and line dancing before sampling the famous Bear Paws from the Frybread Queen. Tickets are required for the dinner and space is limited.
PHOTO: Joe Jesseau
Saturday, October 3, turns the focus to Indigenous visual art and traditional craft. The Indigenous Art and Artisan Showcase runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, bringing together more than two dozen notable artists who will share their work, stories and techniques with visitors.
For the first time, Reconciliation Through Art will also offer hands-on opportunities for visitors to learn Indigenous beadwork and create their own porcupine quill earrings under the guidance of Knowledge Keeper Patsea Griffin. The Frybread Queen will also be open throughout the day. The showcase provides an opportunity not only to see and purchase Indigenous artwork, but to meet artists and learn about the cultural knowledge and traditions behind their work. Workshop registration is required, while admission to the showcase is free and donations are welcome.
Sunday, October 4, brings a full day of programming focused on Indigenous history, knowledge and remembrance. The day begins with a Water Walk from 8 to 9 a.m., travelling from Almonte Old Town Hall to Metcalfe Geoheritage Park. Later that morning, the focus shifts to Indigenous history and culture at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, where visitors can take part in teachings, presentations and storytelling. The program will include traditional drumming and jingle dancing, as well as opportunities to learn about the history of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation and the Métis Nation of Ontario. The program will also include the perspectives of Residential School and 60s Scoop survivors, offering an opportunity for participants to engage with some of the difficult and deeply personal experiences that continue to shape conversations about reconciliation in Canada.
The weekend concludes with a special screening of The Apology: A Search for Justice, followed by a talkback with Métis filmmaker Matt LeMay, CEO of Indigenous Geographic. LeMay’s film follows a history making delegation to Pope Francis and was produced after his film crew received exclusive access to document the delegation’s journey and its history. Registration is required for the film screening and for selected history and culture sessions.
At its heart, Reconciliation Through Art is about creating opportunities for people to connect with Indigenous culture through direct experience.
Art, music, food, dance and storytelling offer different ways into conversations about history and reconciliation, while also providing opportunities to celebrate living Indigenous cultures and contemporary artists.
Tony Belcourt
The festival continues under the leadership of The Honourable Tony Belcourt, O.C., a trailblazing Métis Elder who was the founding president of the Métis Council of Ontario and the first president of the Native Council of Canada. Belcourt is joined by a team of volunteers and a broad group of artists, performers, educators and cultural presenters contributing to this year’s program.
The result is a weekend that moves beyond a single event or ceremony, bringing together cultural celebration, education, remembrance and opportunities for visitors to participate.
With most programming free, organizers are encouraging people to register early for workshops, presentations and the film screening, where space is limited.
Donations are welcome throughout the festival, and visitors who donate at the Art Showcase will be entered into a raffle featuring gifts from exhibiting artists and local businesses.
For anyone looking for a meaningful way to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Reconciliation Through Art offers something more than a date on the calendar. It provides an opportunity to listen, learn, experience Indigenous culture and engage with artists and knowledge keepers in the community.
Reconciliation Through Art takes place in Almonte from September 27 and October 2 to 4, 2026. Program details, registration information and updates are available at ReconciliationThroughArt.ca and through TicketsPlease.ca.
Photos: David Jolliffe, Rik Walton, and ReconciliationThroughArt.ca
