Greetings from the
Musqueam Indian Band
ʔa: si:y̓ém̓ nə siyéy̓ə
Friends and relatives
ʔəm̓i ce:p kʷətxʷiləm ʔi ʔə tə n̓a šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaʔɬ təməxʷ, tə šxʷʔam̓əts tə shən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓qən
Welcome to the ancestral territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking Musqueam people
ʔiʔ ƛ̓əw tə šxʷʔaləqʷaʔ ct tə sqʷχʷaməx ʔiʔ tə səl̕ilwətaʔɬ məsteyəxʷ
Along with our relatives Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh
For countless generations, stories have connected Musqueam people to one another, to our ancestors, and to these lands and waters. They carry our knowledge, our history, our values, and our responsibility to future generations. Today, film continues that tradition in powerful new ways, creating opportunities for Indigenous voices to be heard, celebrated, and shared with audiences around the world.
The Vancouver International Film Festival provides an important space for these stories to be experienced. By showcasing Indigenous filmmakers and perspectives alongside films from across the globe, VIFF helps foster understanding, encourages meaningful dialogue, and celebrates the richness and diversity of storytelling.
We appreciate VIFF’s ongoing commitment to working in partnership with the Host Nations and to creating opportunities for Indigenous artists, filmmakers, and storytellers to share their work. Together, we can continue building relationships through stories that inspire, educate, and connect us.
On behalf of the Musqueam Indian Band, I welcome you to the 2026 Vancouver International Film Festival. I hope you enjoy the festival and take time to reflect on the stories that bring us together.
yəχʷyaχʷələq Chief Wayne Sparrow
Greetings from the
Squamish Nation
Ta newyáp Síiy̓am̓ Ta newyáp síiyay̓
To all our Friends, to all our Respected Leaders.
Stl’i7 chet wa kw’enmantúmiyap kwis na tl’iḵ I tti na7 ta temíxwcht
We want to thank you all and welcome you all to our land.
Nilh ta s7ulh temíxw tta Sḵwx̱wú7meshulh
Úxwmixw iy tta Xwmets’kwiy̓emulh Úxwmixw iy
tta Selílwetulh Úxwumixw
This is the land of our Squamish People, and the Musqueam People, and Tsleil-Waututh People.
For many generations, Squamish People have created a culture of oral literature to teach our history, values, and advice to the next generation. Our storytelling traditions are how we inspire ourselves and our children to be a good person, to treat family, land, and water with respect, and work together as a people. We celebrate all storytelling traditions, including new ways of telling stories through film and cinema.
Squamish Nation recognizes the Vancouver International Film Festival’s work to bring diverse local, national, and inter-national stories to our beautiful territory, while also featuring Indigenous films during the festival and all year round.
Congratulations, VIFF, on your 45th festival!
Syex̱wáliya, Ann Whonnock
Spokesperson & Councilor
Greetings from the
Tsleil-Waututh Nation
ʔo: si:y̓ém̓ nə siyéy̓ə,
Friends and Relatives,
ʔəm̓i ce:p kʷətxʷiləm ʔə tə təməxʷ wə c̓ɬwet ʔə tə məsteyəxʷ tən̓I ƛ̓ xʷməθkʷəy̓əm ʔiʔ sqx̌ʷam̓əx ʔiʔ səl̕ilwətaʔɬ
Welcome to the shared territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
We have lived, gathered, and stewarded lands and waters since time immemorial. As People of the Inlet, Tsleil- Waututh Members are proud of our rich history, hən̓ q̓ əmin̓ əm̓ language, and cultural heritage. We have a profound obligation to both our Ancestors and future generations to protect and care for our territory, which centers around səlilwət (Burrard Inlet).
Storytelling is an important tradition in our səlilwətaɬ community, and film is a powerful platform to convey stories that are meaningful to us, weaving together our history, aspirations, and the enduring connections we have to our lands and waters.
I raise my hands in gratitude towards the Vancouver International Film Festival for their ongoing commitment to bringing Indigenous stories to life on the big screen, as they were long marginalized. We look forward to continuing to walk together in our collaboration and to the Festival inspiring our young filmmakers to reach for their dreams.
The diversity of films screened at the festival help remind us that beneath our differences, we share similar goals, challenges, and experiences: we are all one.
Congratulations on your 45th season!
hay čxʷ q̓ə,
thank you all,
kwitsém, Chief Justin Sky George