Celebrating Canadian Innovation Week with Local Spark in Manitoba

Niriqatiginnga fosters youth leadership and enhances organizational capacity by teaching digital tools through participatory food security research. Our programs empower First Nations, Inuit and Red River Metis youth to drive change and build resilient communities using innovative, tech-driven approaches.
Niriqatiginnga fosters youth leadership and enhances organizational capacity by teaching digital tools through participatory food security research. Our program is supported by the OpenAI Researcher Access Program.

May 13-17, 2024 is Canadian Innovation Week

In the heart of communities, innovators are sparking change, leaving a significant impact on their local landscapes. On May 13, organizations are invited to share their inspiring stories, amplifying the transformative power of local innovation.

For today’s Canadian Innovation Week #CIW24 spotlight, we wanted to share some of the news about the Art Borups Corners Youth Arts and Media Team and how they’re innovating with “local spark.”

Canada Invests in Indigenous Intellectual Property Protection

This spring, with support from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and its Indigenous Intellectual Property Protection Program, the Art Borups Corners Youth, Arts and Media Team will be learning about IP and Indigenous Cultural Expressions (ICEs). The new project was announced during the first week of May by The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

Activities on this new project are focusing on educating and raising awareness about Intellectual Property (IP) and Indigenous Cultural Expressions among artists, youth, and Elders involved in community-based participatory arts entrepreneurship programming. By providing a platform for artists to access southern pricing and maintain control over their creative works, the “marketplace” aims to foster economic opportunities while safeguarding Indigenous Cultural Expressions.

Meet the collaborating artists, academics and entrepreneurs that make Niriqatigiinnga possible.
Tony Eetak is one of the founding members of the @1860 Arts program in Winnipeg and the Art Borups Corners program.

To read more about this exciting new project, click here.

The Indigenous Intellectual Property Program grants serve a crucial role in advancing reconciliation efforts and ensuring Indigenous participation in IP discussions. These grants not only provide resources for capacity building and education but also contribute to the protection of Indigenous knowledge and cultural expressions. The recipients of these grants, including organizations like the Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council and the Manitoba Métis Federation, will play pivotal roles in safeguarding Indigenous interests within the IP landscape.

The program aligns with the Government of Canada’s broader commitments to advance reconciliation and renew the relationship with Indigenous Peoples by providing resources to increase Indigenous participation in IP discussions, explore ways to make the IP system more accessible, protect Indigenous knowledge (IK) and Indigenous cultural expressions (ICEs) and support their IP projects.

Harnessing the innovative power of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, Northern Indigenous youth artists and community researchers from Art Borups Corners will soon be able to amplify their efforts with cutting-edge AI tools thanks to support from the OpenAI Researcher Access Program.

The news comes just a few days after announcement of the 2024 Indigenous Intellectual Property Program funding in partnership with “Art Borups Corners” Project. The new project is brining increased attention to the critical role of technologies in safeguarding cultural heritage.

So for this 2024 Canadian Innovation Week, we want to express our thanks to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the OpenAI Researcher Access Program for investing in the youth and our programming.

Supporting Canadian Innovation Week

Canadian Innovation Week celebrates Canada’s unique innovation landscape, where diversity fuels creativity and stability fosters progress. #CIW24 recognizes the courage of problem-solvers tackling challenges on the spot – acknowledging every sector, embracing innovators at all stages, and uniting everyone under the banner of potential and inclusivity.

Take part in Canadian Innovation Week activities by visiting their web site at: https://canadianinnovationspace.ca

Picture of Art Borups Corners

Art Borups Corners

Nestled in the heart of Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario, Art Borups Corners is a dynamic participatory arts collective and living lab, where innovation and creativity thrive. The program was founded in 2014, with an arts incubator established in 2021 and 2022 with funding and support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse. Today, working with students and faculty from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, we fuse traditional and participatory media arts with artificial intelligence, music, storytelling and community-driven, land-based artist residencies to cultivate new voices and bold ideas. Whether through collaborative projects or immersive experiences, our small but vibrant community supports creators to explore, experiment, and connect. Join us at the intersection of artistry, technology, culture and community—where every moment is a new opportunity to create.

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