Tag Archives: ASAP

ASAP 2026 presentation “Biskane” takes place August 20th

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Poster for Biskane, the culminating performance for the 2026 Summer Arts Program.

Biskane
Culminating performance for the 2026 Aanmitaagzi Summer Arts Program

August 20, 2026 at 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
Big Medicine Studio
161 Couchie Memorial Dr, Nipissing First Nation

Aanmitaagzi and the participants of the 2026 Aanmitaagzi Summer Arts Program are pleased to invite the public to Big Medicine Studio for Biskane (it ignites), the culminating performance for this year’s program. The artists and youth participants have been working hard since the beginning of July to develop and prepare for this presentation through singing, dancing, regalia making, storytelling, visual explorations, attending pow wows, participating in Spiderwoman Theater’s Block Party Pow Wow in Brooklyn, and engaging in other arts activities. The collaboratively created and performed work is an investigation and expression of indigenous dance and storytelling that has grown out of their experiences over the summer and the stories and knowledge they carry with them. The presentation is free to attend, and all are welcome.

Biskane is co-created and performed by:

Lead Artists – Sid Bobb, Katie Couchie, Penny Couchie, Sherry Guppy, Darren Nakogee, with Special Guests Olivia Shortt and Animikiikwe Couchie-Waukey

Program Participants – Albany Benson, Harvey Campeau, Ouske Couchie-Bobb, Lukas Driedger, Janiah Etherington, Autumn Hookimaw, Mya Katt, Waseskwan Linklater, William McGrath, Georgia Mianskum, Tayton Mianskum, Malia Mizzi, Zaidyn Mizzi, Niibin Nakogee, Finnegan Rice, Lance Sarazin, North Spence, Nate Thomas, and Jodan Wesley.

Guest Facilitators – Dan Commanda, Eva Couchie, and Clayton Windatt

What is the Aanmitaagzi Summer Arts Program?

The Aanmitaagzi Summer Arts Program (ASAP) is an annual 8-week intensive in indigenous performing, visual, and traditional arts. Now in its nineteenth year, the program gives indigenous youth the opportunity to learn, share, express and create alongside Aanmitaagzi’s professional multi-disciplinary arts team, guest artists, and community-members in a collaborative, inter-generational, and welcoming space.

How can I get more information?

For more information, please call (705) 474-2227 or email aanmitaagzi@gmail.com.

Aanmitaagzi wishes to thank the Government of Canada through the Canada Council for the Arts and the Canada Summer Jobs Program, the Ontario Government through the Ontario Arts Council, Mushkegowuk Employment & Training Services, Moose Cree Training & Employment Unit, the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre’s Apatisiwin Program, and the Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference for generously supporting the 2026 Summer Arts Program.

 

Aanmitaagzi & ON THE EDGE Fringe team up for “First Draft”

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Documentation from the presentation of First Draft at Big Medicine Studio.

On August 11, 2026 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Aanmitaagzi Story Makers presented First Draft as part of ON THE EDGE Fringe Festival’s 2026 Duality program.

First Draft was a series of works-in-progress presentations by Aanmitaagzi Story Makers and the youth participants of their 2026 Summer Arts Program. Ranging from storytelling, spoken word, and singing to dance, shadow theatre, and improv, this informal night of sharing brought folks together for creativity, connection, and community. Artists from the Fringe festival were also invited to share a little about their shows, taking place at the Capitol Centre from August 12th – 16th.

Many thanks to everyone that came out to the event, and to the ON THE EDGE Fringe Festival for programming and supporting this presentation.

2026 Summer Employment Opportunity

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Documentation from our 2022 ASAP presentation at the Fabulous Festival of Fringe Film.

2026 SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Aanmitaagzi is currently seeking applicants aged 15 – 30 for it’s 2026 Summer Arts Program. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2026. Full details can be found below.

Job title: Community Arts Intern
Length of contract: 8 weeks
Hours per week: 35
Hourly wage: $20.00
Start date: July 6, 2026
Location: Big Medicine Studio – 161 Couchie Memorial Dr., North Bay, ON
Deadline to apply: June 30, 2026

Background:

Aanmitaagzi is an Indigenous multi-disciplinary artist-run company based in Nipissing First Nation. Linked to provincial, national, and international networks, Aanmitaagzi is committed to fostering a vibrant arts community through community-engaged projects that promote well-being, strengthen relationships with the land, and incorporate intergenerational approaches and methodologies. Aanmitaagzi combines art making, education, professional development & social activism through contemporary and customary arts, nurturing historic Indigenous arts practices and exploring how these practices can be carried forward in a meaningful contemporary context.

Every year, we run an annual summer arts program that gives Indigenous youth the opportunity to learn from and work with respected Indigenous arts professionals and Elders. This year’s Summer Arts Program (ASAP) will take place from July 6 – August 28, 2026. Over the eight weeks of the program, Aanmitaagzi’s lead artists and invited guest artists will work with the youth participants, providing training in areas such as storytelling and creation, acting, dancing, movement, voice, singing, drumming, visual and installation art, as well as customary Indigenous arts practices and cultural teachings. Through artmaking and ensemble building, the youth and artists will collaboratively create a performance work that incorporates elements of dance/theatre as well as arts installations for public presentation, and engages with Aanmitaagzi’s current arts initiative, All My R(el)ations.

Tasks and responsibilities:

The Community Arts Interns will receive on the job training in a variety of artistic disciplines such as traditional and non-traditional storytelling, acting, theatre, dance, voice, puppetry, visual art, installation art, and customary Indigenous arts practices. They will further develop their communications and interpersonal skills and learn the fundamental aspects of event planning and delivery, production management, and outreach and marketing. They will also participate in the creation and delivery of workshops, events, activities, and presentations that will be open to the public.

Specific duties will include:

  • Working with Aanmitaagzi staff, guest artists, and community members under the supervision of the Co-Artistic Directors
  • Working with and receiving mentorship from arts professionals, Elders, and cultural knowledge keepers in a variety of disciplines
  • Working collaboratively to create work for public presentation
  • Participating in other arts events, festivals, and community engagement activities the organization engages in
  • Communicating with community members, Elders, and peers for the purposes of coordination and outreach
  • Supporting services to community members and facilitating engagement between youth and Elders
  • Promoting, supporting, and helping to coordinate the organization’s events and activities

In addition, the youth will be responsible for helping to maintain a safe and organized workspace, following established schedules, completing assigned tasks in a timely fashion, and fostering a positive, creative, and respectful work environment.

Eligibility:

These positions are funded through federal employment programs. To be eligible for employment, youth must:

  • be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment
  • be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
  • have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
  • be fluent in English

Ideal candidates:

The ideal candidates for this job position are full-time secondary or post-secondary Indigenous youth pursuing a career in the arts (e.g. dance, theatre, fine arts, etc.) or Indigenous studies, however candidates pursuing careers in related fields (e.g. arts administration, health & wellness programs, social work, etc.) will also be considered. Please note that youth not currently in school will also be considered.

Application Process:

Interested applicants are asked to send their resumes and a brief cover letter explaining why they are interested in participating in our summer arts program to aanmitaagzi@gmail.com by June 30, 2026. Only applicants selected for interview will be contacted.

For more information, please contact Sid Bobb, Co-Artistic Director, by phone at (705) 474-2227 or by email at aanmitaagzi@gmail.com.

 

ASAP 2025 presenting Catch and Release on August 21st

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Catch and Release
Culminating performance for the 2025 Aanmitaagzi Summer Arts Program

August 21, 2025 at 7 pm
Big Medicine Studio
161 Couchie Memorial Dr, Nipissing First Nation

Aanmitaagzi and the participants of the 2025 Aanmitaagzi Summer Arts Program are pleased to invite you all to Catch and Release, the culminating performance for this year’s program. The artists and youth participants have been working hard since the beginning of July to develop and prepare for this presentation through singing, dancing, regalia making, storytelling, visual explorations, attending pow wows, and other arts activities. The collaboratively created and performed work is an investigation and expression of indigenous dance and storytelling that has grown out of these activities and what lies in the hearts and minds of everyone involved. The presentation is free to attend and all are welcome.

The Aanmitaagzi Summer Arts Program (ASAP) is an annual 8-week intensive in indigenous performing and visual arts. Now in its eighteenth year, the program is led by award winning and renowned professional indigenous artists and educators. The program gives indigenous youth the opportunity to learn, share, express and create alongside our professional multi-arts team, guest artists, and community-members in a collaborative, inter-generational, and welcoming space.

Catch and Release is co-created and performed by:

Lead Artists – Sid Bobb, Penny Couchie, Katie Couchie, and Darren Nakogee with special guests Doreen Bellaire and Animikiikwe Couchie-Waukey

Program Participants – Albany Benson, Ouske Couchie-Bobb,  Lukas Driedger, Autumn Hookimaw, Mya Katt, Markus Lazary, William McGrath, Tayton  Mianskum, Malia Mathias-Mizzi, Niibin Nakogee, Finn Rice, and Shania Splane

Set by Sherry Guppy with Laura Linklater-Wong and Paige Linklater-Wong

Aanmitaagzi wishes to thank the Government of Canada through the Canada Council for the Arts and the Canada Summer Jobs Program, the Ontario Government through the Ontario Arts Council, Mushkegowuk Employment & Training Services, Moose Cree Training & Employment Unit, and the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre’s Apatisiwin Program for generously supporting the 2025 Summer Arts Program.

 

ASAP presenting at ON THE EDGE Fringe 2024

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The poster for the ALL MY R(el)ATIONS presentation for the ON THE EDGE Fringe Festival's 2024 Duality Program.

ALL MY R(EL)ATIONS
Presented by ON THE EDGE Fringe Festival
August 13th @ 8 pm
181 Oak St. W

Aanmitaagzi is extremely excited to be invited by the ON THE EDGE Fringe Festival to once again participate in their 2024 Duality program.

For this year’s program, we will be presenting a live multi-arts performance from our current multi-year project ALL MY R(el)ATIONS. The presentation will include dancing, storytelling/spoken word, singing, drumming, and art installations, and will take place on the green space beside the Dionne Quints Museum (181 Oak St. W). The performance is about 40 minutes long and will begin around 8 pm. There is no admission fee and all are welcome. This is an outdoor performance so be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and to bring a chair or blanket to sit on.

Artist Statement

The artists and participants of this year’s Summer Arts Program have been working hard over the last six weeks to prepare for this presentation. The collaboratively created and performed work is an investigation and expression of indigenous dance and our myths. We have spent weeks singing, dancing, regalia making, story-telling, and travelling to pow wows. This performance has grown out of these activities and what lies in our hearts and minds.

The Aanmitaagzi Summer Arts Program (ASAP) is an 8-week intensive in indigenous performing and visual arts. Now in its seventeenth year, the program faculty is led by award winning and renowned professional indigenous artists and educators. Participants learn, share, express and create alongside our professional multi-arts team.

ALL MY R(el)ATIONS, our latest work-in-progress, explores our historic abundance in opposition to systemic oppression and poverty. How much of what we have now, is a ration; a small shadow of what we once had? What are we entitled to? What dances, stories, songs and language is our birthright?

ALL MY R(el)ATIONS explores historically rooted ways in which we make a return to abundance by connecting to ourselves and all of Creation.

This work is co-created and performed by:

Albany Benson, Sid Bobb, Penny Couchie, Ouske Couchie-Bobb, Niganii Dokis, Sherry Guppy, Autumn Hookimaw, Skyler Hookimaw, Mya Katt, Waseskwan Linklater, Malia Mathias-Mizzi, William McGrath, Darren Nakogee, Finn Rice, and Shania Splane.

With Special Guests:

Blair Beaucage, Katie Couchie, Brennan Govender, Olivia Shortt, Cody Sutherland, Ronnie Turner, and more!

Aanmitaagzi wishes to thank the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Government of Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs Program, Mushkegowuk Employment & Training Services, the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre’s Apatisiwin Program, and the ON THE EDGE Fringe Festival for generously supporting this project and the 2024 Summer Arts Program.