Toga da wôhnagabi: Music Creation Residency 2026

Application Deadline August 20, 2025

Program Dates Feb 02, 2026 - Feb 28, 2026

Overview  

“Toga da wôhnagabi” (Stories for the future) is a four-week hybrid Indigenous music residency that brings worldviews together from all four corners of Mother Earth. Watched over by Buffalo Spirit, the residency provides musicians and songwriters a transformative space to actively listen and learn from each other in story and song.

Through workshops, studio recording and live performance, the residency gives participants space to create and share their stories using language and land teachings in their music creations and performance. Artists will listen to the land speak and use those sounds along with their own Indigenous language sounds to both express and celebrate life and their unique worldviews in a life-affirming and creative gathering space. 

Solo artists or duos are welcome to apply. 

Description

“Toga da wôhnagabi ” (Stories for the future) Residency explores the many facets of musical creation, songwriting, and performance through land-based and embodied methodologies. Participants will:

• Expand their performance skills, active and deep listening, and understanding of music production.
• Engage in faculty-led workshops, group gatherings, and one-on-one sessions with senior faculty.
• Create new works and arrangements while refining their musical abilities.
• Have 24hr access to studios and/or music huts to focus on songwriting and performance preparation.
• Receive a ½-day recording session to capture their work.
• Be part of a supportive community of up to 14 peers.
• Participate in a final music showcase, with up to 10 minutes of stage time or three creative works.

Requirements

Open to Indigenous people from all regions - locally, nationally, and internationally.

• Ideal for Indigenous musicians, singer-songwriters, composers, and creators across all music genres.
• Applicants should have one or more completed projects and be working on a new project.
• Designed for solo artists and duos.