Music is Jasmine Netsena’s first language. From the age of five, the award-winning singer-songwriter, who is of the Dene and Tahltan Nations, learned to sing from her grandmothers in their Indigenous languages. Classical voice training only strengthened that bedrock, and now, Jasmine has been honing her songwriting and guitar skills for close to 15 years. Jasmine released her debut album, Take You With Me, in 2014. For her second record, she uses her voice to uncover long-buried issues. The daughter of a residential school survivor, Jasmine wants to use music to add to the dialogue of intergenerational healing. Jasmine has charmed audiences in New York City, Nashville and across Canada. In 2014, the Fort Nelson, B.C. resident won Best Folk/Acoustic Album in the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards and was nominated for at Indigenous Songwriter of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. She’s been featured on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network show Rising Stars, and in 2012, she performed at the Grand Ole Northern Opry with Grammy Award winner Laurie Lewis. In 2018, Jasmine received Socan’s inaugural Indigenous Songwriter Award.

At Words North, Jasmine will be taking part in the panel discussion, Writing to Engage Community, giving a presentation, and performing her work Saturday September 29th at the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre.

Jasmine describes her workshop as follows:

“What helps you to find your writing flow? How does routine and ritual help us write? Some writers go for a drive or a walk. Some ski. Sometimes a simple “change of scene” can get your writing juices flowing. Where does motion and writing meet? Join Jasmine in this discussion around writing, ritual and movement. Participants will also engage in some writing exercises, so don’t forget your notebook and pen (as if you would:)).”

For more information on the Words North festival, visit Words North Schedule and Line Up