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Call for Applicants: CBC New Indigenous Voices

Are you an emerging Indigenous creator aged 18 to 35 interested in a career in film, TV and digital media?

[Read this announcement on the National Screen Institute website]

Applications are now open for the CBC New Indigenous Voices program, presented by the National Screen Institute – Canada. There is no fee to apply or participate and students receive minimum wage throughout the entire program.

CBC New Indigenous Voices is a full-time, 14-week online training program for up to 10 Indigenous creators to learn the essential elements of working in the film, TV and digital media industries.

Training sessions take place online, culminating in a final podcast project and a six-week internship placement. The curriculum is designed with traditional and spiritual elements.

Emerging Indigenous creators who want to explore career opportunities and gain hands-on workplace and production experience are encouraged to apply. Six places are guaranteed for applicants living in Manitoba, and up to four places are available for applicants outside Manitoba.

The application deadline is April 8. Find out more about the program and how to apply. If you require accessibility adjustments to complete this application, please email sarahs.yellowquill@nsi-canada.ca

Back for their sixth consecutive year, CBC continues to support and uplift emerging Indigenous storytellers as title, presenting and tuition sponsor of this program.

“CBC is proud to continue to partner with the National Screen Institute on this meaningful program, furthering our commitment to creating space for Indigenous creators to learn, develop and share their stories with audiences across Canada and around the world,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports, CBC. “We are honoured to offer support to the future of our industry and to help ensure that the participants in the New Indigenous Voices program have the tools they need to succeed in their careers.”


Interested applicants can register for a free Q+A webinar on March 14 at 12 p.m. CT to find out more about the program and hear directly from alumni about what the training is really like. Program manager Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill will also be available to answer questions. Sign up now!


The program has three phases, beginning in May and running until August.

In phase one, participants attend approximately 10 online sessions Monday to Friday, featuring interactive group discussions, presentations and workshops. All sessions are mandatory.

In phase two, participants work with mentors to produce and edit their own short podcast episode. Once complete, participants will begin an internship placement.

Previous internship placements include Eagle Vision, CBC Manitoba, Kejic Productions, Winnipeg Film Group, Native Communications Society of the Northwest Territories as well as working on film sets.

Faculty includes program advisor Erica Daniels (CBC New Indigenous Voices, NSI IndigiDocs and Manitoba Content Creators Development Accelerator), Indigenous training programs advisor Lisa Meeches and program manager Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill.

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CBC New Indigenous Voices 2021 was funded by Title, Presenting and Tuition Sponsor CBC; Program Partners Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage, the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD)Telefilm Canada; Indigenous Training Programs Partner Directors Guild of Canada; Provincial Sponsors Manitoba Film & Music, Creative BC through the Daryl Duke and William Vince Scholarship Fund; Industry Supporters IATSE Local 856imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts FestivalFilm Training Manitoba; Service Sponsors iSplice FilmsFinal Draft. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

About the National Screen Institute – Canada

Propelled by a visionary network of donors, private and public organizations, board and staff, the National Screen Institute supports creators from across Canada to tell unforgettable stories. Through industry-informed training and mentoring in film, television and digital media, students and alumni find their voice and place on the global stage, inspiring us to shape a better world.

The National Screen Institute is committed to training participants from a diverse community of voices including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+), people with disabilities, those outside large urban centres, those from regional and remote areas and various religious groups.