Bulbancha Residencies
Bulbancha Residencies support Indigenous artists with a deep connection to Louisiana. 2022 - present.
Bulbancha Residencies support Indigenous artists with a deep connection to Louisiana. Bulbancha, the original name for New Orleans, is a Choctaw word meaning “the place of other languages.” It refers to the historical and enduring nature of our area as a crossroads of waterways and a place of trade and cultural interaction between nations. Through this program, we aim to support the continuation of this legacy of cultural exchange and bolster the unique place of Indigenous Peoples in discussions of climate change and its aftermath. The residency was conceptualized in partnership with a steering committee composed of Indigenous leaders, scholars, artists, and former Studio residents including:
Ida Aronson* – Artist, United Houma Nation
John Barbry – Language & Culture Revitalization Program, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana
Dr. Darryl G. Barthé PhD – Dartmouth College, Louisiana Creole
ChE* – Artist, Afro-indigenous Choctaw and Cherokee
Hali Dardar – Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, United Houma Nation
Jeffery U. Darensbourg* – Artist, Atakapa-Ishak Nation of Southwest Louisiana
Elizabeth Ellis – New York University, Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
Tammy Greer – University of Southern Mississippi, United Houma Nation
Margaret Pearce* – Cartographer, Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Monique Verdin* – Artist, United Houma Nation
We are pleased to announce 2023/24 Bulbancha Residencies residents: Tanner Menard and Maaliyah Papillion, as nominated and selected by a subcommittee of former indigenous resident artists.*
Tanner Menard is a poet, composer and Kundalini Yoga teacher. He is the founder of UBU Yogic Tech, an online kundalini coaching studio that works with artists to build creative and help humanity evolve. He is working on a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Tanner will be writing and working on UBU Yogic Tech coursework.
Maaliyah Papillion is a Creole and Indigenous actress, singer, model, third-generation healer from a long line of Indigenous leaders, and an enthusiastic enrolled member of the Atakapa-Ishak Nation of Southwest Louisiana.