Top row (L-R): Kerri-Ann Bear, Mya Coutu, Jeromy Desjarlais, Garret Gunning and Zoe Krzuk.
Bottom row (L-R): Julianna Peter Paul, John Seymour, Joseph Smith, Junior Whitefish and Megan Wood.

The National Screen Institute welcomes 10 new participants to the 2025 edition of CBC New Indigenous Voices, a full-time, 14-week immersive training program for emerging Indigenous creators aged 18 and over. The program supports career development through hands-on learning, mentorship and industry networking opportunities led by working professionals.

CBC has pledged to maintain its sponsorship for this year’s edition and next, marking a decade as the program’s title, presenting and tuition sponsor.

Through focused education and practical application in the essential elements of film, television and digital media, participants build the skills and confidence needed to advance their creative and professional goals. The curriculum is designed with traditional and spiritual elements, and all participants receive Manitoba minimum wage throughout the program.

Congratulations to the 2025 cohort:

• Kerri-Ann Bear (Edmonton, AB)
• Mya Coutu (Winnipeg, MB)
• Jeromy Desjarlais (Lestock, SK)
• Garret Gunning (Winnipeg, MB)
• Zoe Krzuk (Winnipeg, MB)
• Julianna Peter Paul (Red Bank, NB)
• John Seymour (Winnipeg, MB)
• Joseph Smith (Tagish, YK)
• Junior Whitefish (Winnipeg, MB)
• Megan Wood (Winnipeg, MB)

Read more about these creators.

“Every year, I’m excited to meet the participants and support them through their technical, creative and spiritual growth during the program. This year is no exception,” says manager of programs and development Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill. “This program packs a lot into the time we have together, and I am confident this year’s cohort will rise to the challenge.”

Participants will gain deeper insight into the film and television industry through sessions led by a network of faculty, mentors and guest speakers. As part of the program, they will collaborate to produce a short film, written and directed by a member of the cohort. This project serves as both a creative milestone and a professional portfolio piece.

Upon completing the training and production phases, their achievements will be recognized at a graduation ceremony. The program concludes with an internship placement, offering a strategic entry point into the industry. Previous internship hosts include APTN, Eagle Vision, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios and Wookey Films.

Program alumni include 2025 Golden Sheaf Award nominee Dinae Robinson, 2025 Indigenous Screen Summit participant Darcy Waite and 2025 Rockie Award nominee Sonya Ballantyne.

The 2025 edition will be led by Elder Louise McKay, program co-creator, advisor and National Screen Institute alum Vanessa Loewen, program manager Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill and program coordinator and alum Dion Telesky.

CBC New Indigenous Voices runs until August 2025.

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CBC New Indigenous Voices 2025 is funded by Title, Presenting and Tuition Sponsor CBC; Program Partners Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Neeginan Education, Training and Employment Services, Inc. (NETES), Telefilm Canada; Strategic Sponsor The Winnipeg Foundation; Director / Production Sponsor Directors Guild of Canada (DGC); Provincial / Territorial Sponsor Manitoba Film & Music, Yukon Media Development, Creative Saskatchewan; Industry Partner Final Draft; Industry Supporter On Screen Manitoba; Service Sponsors Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV, Line 21 Media Services. National Screen Institute Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council, Rogers. More sponsors will be added as confirmed.

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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: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. 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

The National Screen Institute partners with a visionary network of donors, businesses, and private and public organizations to provide industry-informed training in screen-based media, equipping creators across Canada with the skills to tell unforgettable stories.

By prioritizing storytellers from equity-deserving communities – including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), women, 2SLGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and those in regional and remote areas – the institute helps build a more sustainable industry and a workforce ready to meet evolving market demands.

Students and alumni find their voices and places on the global stage, strengthening the creative economy and shaping a better world.

Further enquiries

Media enquiries: Abiola Agbayewa – abiola[dot]agbayewa[at]nsi-canada[dot]ca