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Wîchoîe Ahiya Indigenous Singer Songwriter Intensive
Program Information
Michelle Lafferty performing during the Canadian Indigenous Music Gathering, Banff Centre 2019
Overview
Inspired by Elder Buddy Wesley, Wîchoîe Ahiya (“Wee-cho-ee-ay A-hee-ya”) means “singing words” in Stoney Nakoda. This three-week residency explores the art of songwriting, vocal presence, and production.
Deepen your creative practice and expand your skill set through one-on-one sessions with expert faculty and guest artists, as well as group workshops among peers. Joining this year’s intensive are two Indigenous musicians from Tasmania with experience in improvised music sessions and collaborations.
You will also have freedom to structure your time around the needs of your project, explore the unique process of songwriting, and rediscover the art of the song.
What does the program offer?
The Wîchoîe Ahiya Indigenous Singer Songwriter Intensive is designed to explore the entire process of songwriting with different methodologies, expand on performance skills, and learn the intricacies of production.
You will have performance opportunities as well as time in Banff Centre’s recording studio with support from faculty, staff producers, and engineers. You’ll also interact with a supportive community of up to 16 peers and have 24-hour access to studios. Production spaces are available and will be shared with others in the residency.
Who should apply?
Open to Indigenous people from all regions locally, nationally, and internationally, this residency is an ideal fit for Indigenous singer songwriters who have an established professional practice writing and performing their own original material as well as creating their own musical arrangements.
Artists should have produced an independent body of work, and received recognition through public presentation in performance or recordings as well as from their peers.
Faculty
What's Included
When applying, choose between staying in a single or a shared bedroom on the Banff Centre campus for the duration of your program.
Get connected with other artists on campus and focus on your projects in a creative environment while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
Using a credit-based system to dine on campus, our flexible meal plans allow you to select meals according to your own needs during your stay.
The Full Flex meal plan includes $40 credit per day, equivalent to breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Vistas Dining Room.
This program offers opportunities to showcase your work-in-progress in one of our performance venues.
Your program fee includes free access to the swimming pool, climbing gym, and fitness suite as well as discounted rates for classes at the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre.
Access a wide range of publications, books, music, and films in the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, open six days a week.
Enjoy special artist rates for ticketed performances or complimentary access to events.
Enrich your experience and get to know other artists on campus by taking advantage of the activities and support provided by our Participant Resources team.
Fees & Financial Assistance
Application fee: $35
*Indigenous artists accepted to the program will be eligible for up to 100% scholarship to cover the Program Fee.
The program fee includes tuition, a single or shared room, and the Full Flex Meal Plan at Banff Centre. Travel to and from Banff Centre is the responsibility of participants. In addition to the program fee, participants are responsible for all costs associated with their stay such as shipping, materials and supplies (including photographic materials), rental and use of audio/visual equipment, printing, and any other specific facility fees.
Additional need-based financial aid is available. If you would like to be considered, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.
Help fund your experience at Banff Centre. View a compiled list of national and international opportunities here.
How to Apply
Adjudication
Participants are selected by impartial adjudicators on the basis of their submitted material. In addition to artistic merit, consideration will be given to the likelihood that the artist's work will benefit from the program. Applicants will be notified of their status as soon as adjudication is complete.
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Contact the Registrar
For questions on preparing your application, please contact the Office of the Registrar:
