10/04/2026
We at NDW, in partnership with First Light, are happy to announce that Barbara Penney is this year's Indigenous Dancer in Residence.
Barbara, whose deep love for her Inuit culture shows up in her daily work and her creative passions alike, can often be found working on her beadwork and embroidery skills, as well as designing Inuit clothing, or sharing a kind moment with members of her community who come to First Light seeking support. Having worked at First Light for three years, she has continually grown her skills and her community connections, while learning traditional Inuit drum dancing along the way, thanks to many mentors and knowledge holders in her community.
For the 2026 Spirit Song Festival Barbara plans to share the stage with her mentee, MB, who is also seeking to thrive creatively through their expression of culture. MB is an up-and-coming artist, proudly learning and sharing their culture as an Inuk. Thanks to their mentor, Ashley Dicker, Barbara and MB continue to hone their skills and grow their creative expressions through performance. The hope is that this sharing of knowledge and experience can continue to light the fire of inspiration, so these important traditional practices continue to be passed on to future generations.
Photo by Riley Harnett
