Cultural Gathering of Nations returns for 2026

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — A gathering of the B.C. Treaty 8 First Nations will return in the fall of 2026.

For the second year, Dawson Creek’s Ovintiv Events Centre will host the Cultural Gathering of Nations (CGON) scheduled to begin Thursday, September 17th.

Although details are not finalized yet, CGON event coordinator Daniel Desjarlais said more northeast B.C. First Nations will participate in this year’s logistics behind the event.

Desjarlais is also the event coordinator for West Moberly First Nations (WMFN).

“We are definitely making some changes this year,” said Desjarlais. “[There is] a whole new team that’s organizing it in 2026. We also have a lot more nations that are involved.”

In 2025, the CGON was organized by members of WMFN, Prophet River First Nation (PRFN) as well as Halfway River First Nation (HWFN), but Desjarlais said more of the Treaty 8 Nations will have a hand in 2026.

He says events such as hand games, the pow wow, tea dance, artisan marketplace and vendors will return. In addition, each of the nations will have a representative participate in the cultural camp and demonstration aspects of the event.

Desjarlais added there are initial plans to include a kid zone this year as well.

“There’s still some things that we’re solidifying,” Desjarlais told Energeticcity.ca. “We are going to be working on improving our culture area a lot more…it’s going to [make for a] better flow.”

Sponsorship packages have been finalized and will be distributed starting next week, said Desjarlais. 

The alcohol and drug-free event is free to drop in, with only the hand games and pow wow portions requiring registration, with those details to be released soon.

The CGON will take place from Thursday, September 17th until Sunday, September 20th at the Ovintiv Events Centre in Dawson Creek.