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 who created a nomination process for the first two years and a closed call for the 2024-25 season. The current Bulbancha Committee is composed of Indigenous leaders, scholars, artists, and former Studio residents including:
John Barbry – Language & Culture Revitalization Program, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana
Dr. Darryl G. Barthé PhD – Dartmouth College, Louisiana Creole
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
Tanner Menard* – Artist, Atakapa-Ishak Nation
Maaliyah Papillion* – Artist, Atakapa-Ishak Nation of Southwest Louisiana
Margaret Pearce* – Cartographer, Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Monique Verdin* – Artist, United Houma Nation
* upcoming/former resident artist
Bulbancha Residents
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Amy Bluemel Multidisciplinary Artist, 2025, Texas Amy Bluemel is Chickasaw, an award-winning storyteller, artist, and co-founder of the stomp dance troupe Chikashsha Hithla. Amy travels around the country storytelling and educating about Southeastern tribal culture. She plans to use her residency to research a story documented… -
John DePriest Performing Artist and Scholar, 2025, Louisiana John DePriest is a linguist, musician, educator, and songwriter based out of Bʋlbancha (New Orleans, Louisiana) and is an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He earned a PhD from Tulane University studying language and music in the… -
Michelle Joan Papillion Multidisciplinary Artist, 2025, Louisiana Michelle Joan Papillion is a grower, creator and builder who works conceptually. Her current work is centered around shared economics and cultural heritage preservation. She is a steward of her ancestors’ native land and created Royal Queen Farms as a… -
Maaliyah Papillion Interdisciplinary Artist, 2024, Louisiana 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. She infuses her unique experience into her art expression… -
Tanner Menard Bulbancha, 2023, Louisiana Tanner Menard is a multifaceted artist – a poet, composer, and Kundalini Yoga instructor. He is the visionary behind UBU Yogic Tech, an innovative online coaching platform that collaborates with artists to bolster creativity and further human evolution. With a… -
Ida Aronson Multidisciplinary Artist, 2022-23, Louisiana Ida Aronson (they/them) is an activist, theatre maker, herbalism student, cultural apprentice, and active member of the United Houma Nation. Their activism is informed by their multiple identities and first found form in the theatre, where they have worked to…