The Tkaronto Market Centers Indigenous Artistry at FIFA Fan Festival™
Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day at FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto
June 21 is a time to recognize and celebrate the traditions, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. The summer solstice holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples, marking a time of renewal, connection and celebration.
Indigenous Cultural Programming
Join soccer fans from around the world for a day showcasing Indigenous programming through music, dance and storytelling, curated by Indigenous-led production group, TKMF Productions. Featured performances include Classic Roots, Nimkii and the Niniis, Sky Dancers and Allied Nations.
Find Indigenous artists in the mainstage line-up on June 21 (link opens in new window).
You can also create your own vibrant floral bookmark or wooden ornament inspired by traditional Métis beadwork. Through a guided painting activity, participants learn about the rich artistic traditions of the Métis Nation, including the significance of floral designs, spirit beads and the cultural legacy of the "Flower Beadwork People." Suitable for all ages. The workshop is available all day, every day the festival is open, located in the Ontario campus, drop in any time.
Tkaronto Market
Long before skylines and stadiums defined Canada's largest city, this region was a vital gathering place known as Tkaronto – the original Mohawk word for Toronto, meaning where there are trees standing in the water.
Continuing that long tradition of gathering, The Tkaronto Market is an open-air cultural marketplace located directly inside the FIFA Fan Festival™, with dedicated retail and exhibition space showcasing local and national Indigenous entrepreneurs for locals, tourists and international soccer fans to marvel.
Independent & Handmade
To keep the experience dynamic across the festival’s 22 days, the market operates on a rotating schedule. Four maker booths and one information booth rotate regularly, ensuring returning visitors always discover new vendors and fresh talent.
Bringing a coast-to-coast presence to a global stage, the market features a diverse mix of local Ontario vendors and Indigenous creators from across Canada. This lineup represents decades of retail excellence, showcasing several seasoned business owners who have successfully operated their companies for more than 20 years. Visitors can browse a vibrant range of goods, from modern apparel and contemporary fashion to traditional crafts like handmade beadwork, pottery and art prints.
Visual Identity of the Marketplace
The entire exterior of the main tent structure features custom wrapping designed by Alanah Astehtsi̲' Otsistóhkwaˀ (Morningstar) Jewell (she/her). Jewell is a passionate, proud and self-taught Indigenous artist. She is Bear Clan from Oneida Nation of the Thames, grew up off-reserve, and currently lives in Kitchener, Ontario. Her bold signature style wraps the venue, transforming a temporary festival asset into an intentional, visible home for Indigenous representation.
Jewell also designed the custom artwork featured across the wider Ontario Campus - the festival's massive community hub and interactive activation zone. She draws inspiration from the natural world, cultural teachings and the small moments that make us human, elements beautifully reflected in her designs for both the marketplace exterior and the surrounding festival grounds.
The Medicine Wheel: An Unintentional Fan Photo Op
As soccer fans flood Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival™, an unintentional photo op has become the breakout star of the festival timelines. A striking medicine wheel dream catcher installation – originally placed as a cultural centerpiece – has turned into the great tournament backdrop. Positioned perfectly, it allows fans to snap photos of the vibrant piece with the CN Tower framed in the background. Even Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Craig Fox from Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) have stopped by to replicate the iconic shot.
The piece is part of the Indigenous Ingenuity Northern Tour, a major collaborative project launched by Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) and Science North. Originally adapted from an exhibition at the Montreal Science Centre, the interactive display blends science and culture to honour the complex, resourceful ways of knowing and engineering that Indigenous knowledge has historically contributed to the global community.
On-the-ground feedback highlights excitement and positive sentiment from the team behind the activation. The onsite programming team from the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Toronto, alongside the Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) team, emphasized that the market serves as a wonderful, high-profile opportunity for these creators to showcase their craftsmanship to the world.
The marketplace is open to the public daily throughout the entire run of the FIFA Fan Festival™.