ABOUT
21 YEARS OF EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS YOUTH
21 YEARS OF EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS YOUTH
About Canada's Largest Indigenous Youth Conference
The goal of Gathering Our Voices (GOV) is simple and strong: provide Indigenous youth with the tools to empower and inspire so that they can contribute their gifts to their communities and the world.
Over the course of four days, delegates gather from across Canada to participate in cultural ceremonies and educational workshops. We also host a movie night, dance party, artisan market, exhibitor fair, and a talent show!
GOV is hosted in a different community each year.
The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres is the umbrella organization for 25 Friendship Centres across the province. Each year, one (or more) of our wonderful Friendship Centres co-host GOV with us. We also work closely with the host Nation/s of that community, our Elder’s Council, and our Provincial Indigenous Youth Council (PIYC) to ensure each GOV is reflective of the people whose land GOV takes place on and the guests who will be attending.
Past GOVs include:
- 2025 – Kamloops
- 2024 – Victoria
- 2023 – Vancouver
- 2019 – Port Alberni
- 2018 – Vancouver
- 2017 – Kelowna
- 2016 – Victoria
- 2015 – Prince George
- 2014 – Vancouver
- 2013 – Penticton
- 2012 – Nanaimo
- 2011 – Prince Rupert
- 2010 – Vancouver
- 2009 – Kelowna
- 2008 – Victoria
- 2007 – Prince George
- 2006 – Kamloops
- 2005 – Vancouver
- 1999 – Nanaimo
Check out some of our previous programs for a sample of the flow of the week!
About BCAAFC
The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) co-hosts GOV and serves as the umbrella association for 25 Friendship Centres throughout the province of British Columbia. BCAAFC acts as a unifying body that maintains communication between Friendship Centres, other provincial associations, and the National Association of Friendship Centres while also providing supports to the urban Indigenous community.
About PIYC
The Provincial Indigenous Youth Council (PIYC) co-hosts GOV and is comprised of talented Indigenous youth leaders that represent youth voices at the provincial level. They work together to provide province-wide initiatives to Indigenous youth while also acting as a liaison between Friendship Centres, youth councils, and the BCAAFC Board of Directors.
