—Indigenous Voices on the International Stage—
Traditional Lands of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, Sydney, Australia – Destination Indigenous, in partnership with the Canadian Consulate, Telefilm Canada, and the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), co-hosted the second year for Canada House at SXSW Sydney. The activation showcased Indigenous culture, bringing together creative leaders, cultural ambassadors, Indigenous tourism advocates, and values in a way that deeply resonated with an international audience.
The annual SXSW Sydney Conference offers Asia-Pacific creators and professionals a global stage to showcase their talent and innovations. With over 1,000 events and experiences and attendees from 40+ countries, SXSW Sydney is your gateway to global networking, collaboration, and exposure, solidifying Sydney as the Asia-Pacific’s creative hub.
Canada House featured a dynamic looping video, a Nations Magazine display, and prominent Indigenous programming. In addition, Destination Indigenous also received access to exclusive networking for ITAC’s Creative Manager, Zane Buchanan, who received a premium SXSW badge.
Indigenous-Centered Programming at Canada House
Through a series of curated sessions, Destination Indigenous presented unseen programming at Canada House. Highlights included:
Lunch and Learn: Careers in Canada
Presented by International Experience Canada, this session featured Zane discussing job market trends from ITAC’s 2023-24 Annual Report. Industry leaders from tech, tourism, and hospitality engaged in conversations about the ever-changing role of Indigenous tourism in Canada, creating a greater understanding of its economic and cultural impact.
Dominic Ste Marie’s Storytelling Showcase
Sponsored by Destination Canada, Wendake Tourism’s Dominic Ste-Marie captivated audiences with a “Myths and Legends” showcase, offering a glimpse into the depth of Indigenous oral traditions.
Contemporization of Culture – Ethically Navigating Traditional Indigenous Storytelling in Modern Film and Media with Zane Buchanan
Zane also led a 45-minute discussion on the importance of Indigenous-led storytelling in the media. His session focused on cultural integrity in filmmaking, especially when capturing sacred spaces, and the ethical considerations for respecting Indigenous narratives and heritage in media representation.
Mainstage Impact: Building Global Indigenous Networks
Thanks to a strategic partnership facilitated by the Canadian Consulate, Zane was invited to speak on the SXSW Sydney mainstage at the Awesome Black First Nations Lounge. The panel, Global Indigenous Networks: Building Local Strength vs. Reaching Global Audiences, brought together Indigenous voices from diverse backgrounds to discuss the challenges and opportunities of building strong networks within local communities to support creative projects and businesses while navigating the complexities of expanding their reach to the world stage.
Sharing the stage with Zane were Aysanabee, a Juno Award-winning artist, and Dobby, a renowned Aboriginal rapper from Sydney, both known for using his platforms to uplift Indigenous stories. Travis De Vries, owner of Awesome Black, a leading First Nations-led digital agency, moderated the discussion, bridging insights from music, digital media, and tourism.
Sharing Indigenous Perspectives Through International Conversations
Zane’s participation, both at Canada House and the mainstage panel, shows the power of Indigenous perspectives in shaping global conversations around storytelling, ethical media, and the future of Indigenous tourism.
ITAC thanks the Canadian Consulate, Telefilm Canada, Canadian Independent Music Association and Destination Canada for this outstanding partnership to promote Indigenous creatives in Indigenous tourism on an international showcase.