A couple of hiccups, but that's to be expected as the organizers of the Atamiskakewak 2018 National Gathering review how the event went.

The event, billed as a way to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, had multiple events each day leading to a pow wow Friday night. Facilitator Kallie Wood shared her thoughts.

"Throughout the week we had probably 4500 people come, and that wasn't to stay over night every evening but it was coming in and out of different areas. We touched a lot of youth; there was about 8000 (students) throughout the week. Great numbers and we are looking forward to next time for sure."

Wood went on to say they'll now go through everything, take notes on the good and the bad, and then start preparing for the future.

"It's something that was the first of its kind of event in North America to bring many faculty and voices around the table. We loved having it here in our hometown, and it's Carry the Kettle First Nation, it's on our Treaty 4 territory. I'm not sure where we will take it to but every 3 years is what's planned. Something will be happening somewhere."

"We were very excited with the week. The feedback has just been extraordinary actually, and the leaders that came in and shared, the residential school survivors and our elders, it really was about bridging the gap and the conversations were incredible that happened this week."