Animikiig Creators Unit
Going into its 13th season, the Animikiig Creators Unit is a two-year development program for emerging Indigenous creators. Animikiig offers Indigenous creators who are in the emerging stage of theatrical creation the chance to develop their craft through individualized development plans and resources under the guidance of professional mentors selected in consultation with the Artistic Director and the Program Director. The 13th season runs from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025.
“Animikiig is the Ojibway word for the initial rumblings that tell us of the thunder storm that is to come.”
Animikiig is dedicated to the diversity of Indigenous voices on their journey to production as performance becomes increasingly cross-disciplinary, incorporating music, dance, technology, and performance art. Native Earth recognizes its responsibility to ensure that Indigenous stories persist on Canadian stages.
Program Stages
PHASE 1
Once applications have been assessed, the Program Director will meet with each potential participant. The artists will propose a project on which they will focus. Based on these discussions, participants will be confirmed and a mentor will be selected for each participant in consultation between the creator and the Program Director. Each artist will create a development plan with a series of deadlines to which both participants and mentors agree. The mentors and participants will then work on the outlined projects. Workshops with performers, as required, will take place. During this period, there will also be participant meetings to discuss common ideas, perspectives, expectations and challenges.
PHASE 2
In the first year, each participant and mentor will identify a selection of the developing work to be performed at Weesageechak Begins To Dance, the festival of new work produced in November by Native Earth. The selections will be presented by a company of actors, including some of the Animikiig participants themselves (to further encourage a community of creators), during an evening dedicated to the Animikiig artists.
PHASE 3
After Weesageechak, the Program Director will meet again with each participant to plan how they would like to proceed. We will discuss the success of each project and the current mentorships (whether to continue them or not), and what further resources may be needed. In some cases, this requires further research into Indigenous culture and history; in others it may mean an intensive physical workshop in the studio. For a few it may also include the integral development of scenic elements. Following this, mentors will become more actively director/dramaturgs and Animikiig will provide more intensive workshopping opportunities as dictated by the needs of each project. The end result will be a more fully realized script, libretto, score or physical performance.
Native Earth Performing Arts is dedicated to the on-going support of the artists with whom we work so, during this cycle, each Animikiig participant will receive hands-on counselling with respect to the long-term development of their work.
Partnerships with other companies may be needed to help develop some of the more ambitious projects. We will work with each participant to identify potential production partners and to ensure that the necessary connections are made. We will continue to encourage them to apply for further individual funding as we recognize that more complex artistic projects can take several years to reach production and require outside resources.
PHASE 4
In November of the second year, each Animikiig participant will present an extended selection from their work at Weesageechak Begins to Dance, which will be professionally directed and read/performed by an Indigenous cast. Animikiig is committed not just to the fundamental development of Indigenous work but also to the long-term health and success of our artists and their creation.