Welcome Jenna Valiquette and Nia Banilbo

We're excited to welcome two fantastic, generous, and talented people to the Manitoba Music team for a couple of months through the Canada Summer Jobs program! 

Jenna Valiquette (she / her) joins as the Indigenous Music Development Intern. Jenna is an Ojibwe woman and member of Poplar River First Nation. She is finishing up her Bachelor of Arts majoring in Indigenous Studies, and hoping to pursue a law degree in the future. She studied her Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Voice at the Australian Institute of Music, and grew up playing guitar and piano with her grandmother, Joan. With a love of songwriting, Jenna has performed open mic nights and local talent shows. Jenna is currently in the development stage of her music, which pulls from her country roots, tying in indie-inspired acoustic sounds, and she has recently began embracing traditional Indigenous soundscapes in her songs. Jenna is hoping to release a single in the near future. 

Nia Banilbo (she / her) joins as the Industry Development Intern. Since Nia’s internship with Manitoba Music last summer, she has earned a diploma in Music Business. Nia continues to use what she has learned to uplift and support local artists. She has developed connections and currently manages a local R&B artist, Adoria. Nia has also had the opportunity to consult for various local artists. Nia finds joy in assisting Manitoban artists in any way she can. She is ecstatic to be back at Manitoba Music and looks forward to what this summer has to hold for the local music scene.