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WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
"Henry had everybody laughing with his wit, enthusiasm, and comedic style. He also had the group with tears of sadness in their eyes when reflecting on his family history. Of all the comments that I have had on him as a guest speaker for our Trades Retreat, the one that is repeated the most is; it will be very hard to beat Henry as a guest speaker at any of our next retreats. His message to our group of Instructors (all men) and support staff was very effective, timely, and well accepted."Red Deer College
"Feedback on your presentation to our group was great - a wonderful and light-hearted way to start our 5 days of intense sales and marketing meetings." Johnson & Johnson Medical Products
"We expected you to be well received, but you surpassed our expectations." Leukemia Celebrity Golf Classic
“Theo was truly amazing! When he spoke (without any notes!) he had the room’s full attention. I stood at the back of the room and watched. I was amazed that no one left early or checked their phones. I know there were a few people in the room that Theo connected with on a very deep & personal level and was proud to think that inviting Theo to speak at our event might have helped them move forward in some way."
St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation
Indigenous Motivational & Keynote Speakers
- Tell us about your event, or ask us to check availability for a speaker you have in mind. We’ll send back a shareable proposal covering fees, topics, and video clips so your team can compare options easily.
- When you’ve made your choice, we present your offer to the speaker and manage the contract negotiations for you.
- After that, a dedicated logistics manager handles the planning: booking a call between you and the speaker, confirming technical and travel requirements, and making sure everything is set before event day.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When do organizations typically book Indigenous speakers?
Bookings cluster around National Indigenous Peoples Day in June and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in September, when demand far exceeds availability and calendars fill months out. But the stronger pattern is year-round: conferences on leadership and mental health, corporate reconciliation initiatives, industry events in sectors that work alongside Indigenous communities, and school and university programs. If your date falls near either observance, book very early. If it doesn’t, you’ll find better availability and a talk that reads as commitment rather than calendar.
2. How do we make sure the booking feels genuine rather than symbolic?
Context does most of the work. A talk that connects to something your organization is actually doing, whether that’s a reconciliation action plan, hiring commitments, or community partnerships, lands as sincere; a standalone appearance with nothing around it can feel like a checkbox to everyone including the speaker. Involve the speaker in shaping the session rather than handing them a slot, give the talk a prominent place in the agenda, and be prepared for the speaker to say things that challenge the room. That’s what you’re booking.
3. Do Indigenous speakers only present on Indigenous topics?
No, and assuming so undersells the roster. Indigenous speakers on this roster present on mental health, addiction recovery, athletics, entrepreneurship, and leadership; their identity informs the story, but the keynote subject is often universal. Some organizations specifically want a talk about reconciliation or Indigenous history; others simply want the best speaker on resilience for their conference, who happens to be Indigenous. Be clear with your booking advisor about which of these you’re after, because it shapes the shortlist and the talk.
4. Are there protocols we should know about when hosting an Indigenous speaker?
Yes, and the honest answer is that protocols vary between nations and individuals, so ask rather than assume. The reliable practice is raising it directly during booking: ask the speaker what protocols matter to them and their community, whether that involves introductions, acknowledgement of territory, or other customs. Budget properly rather than expecting a discounted “community rate,” and confirm details like how the speaker prefers to be introduced and their nation identified. Speakers appreciate hosts who ask early far more than hosts who guess.
5. What’s the difference between booking an Indigenous keynote speaker and inviting an Elder?
They’re different roles, and conflating them causes awkwardness. A professional keynote speaker delivers a prepared talk and is booked and paid like any speaker. An Elder or knowledge keeper carries a community role that may include opening an event, offering prayer, or ceremony, engaged through their community’s own protocols, often with an honorarium rather than a standard fee. A keynote speaker shouldn’t be expected to perform ceremony as part of the talk. Some events appropriately include both, in distinct roles arranged distinctly.
6. Our audience has little background on Indigenous history. Will the talk still land?
Usually that’s exactly the audience these speakers reach best. Experienced Indigenous speakers present to corporate and association rooms across Canada where knowledge ranges from deep to nearly none, and they build their talks to carry newcomers without patronizing anyone. Personal story does the heavy lifting: an account of one life communicates history more effectively than a lecture would. Let the speaker know the audience’s starting point during the briefing, and resist the urge to pre-teach the room. Arriving open is enough.