AIRsessions: Making connections, one song at a time [Video]

Since 2018, Manitoba singer-songwriter Ila Barker has been hosting AIRsessions, a free music workshop series that mentors Indigenous youth ages 13 to 25. Initially offered only in Winnipeg, AIRsession has became pan-Canadian for over then four years now. Earlier this summer, Barker, who founded the program in partnership with the former Music Alive (now part of Arts Alive, the National Arts Centre’s school, youth and family programming hub), paid another visit to the young people of Churchill, Manitoba, as part of AIRonTour.

“Music programming like AIRsessions has always really been about having an opportunity to share the community with people who are into the same things that I am, and to give me an outlet to process feelings through,” explains Barker.

AIRsessions is focused on community connections, safer space building, and artist mentorship. Each virtual session is facilitated by Barker and a guest artist in residence, who shares their music, their background, and advice from the music …