In 2025, as part of Jamii’s Emerging Artist Program, supported by the RBC Foundation, Jamii invited Ana Maria Higuera Tirado (aka Ana Figo) to gain experience and expand her creative practice through two complementary projects: LAINI Land and Baraza Pikangikum. 

LAINI Land 2025, held in August at Restoule Provincial Park near North Bay, marked the fourth edition of this immersive youth program. Jamii invited 16 girls from The Esplanade community to engage in a five-day journey of discovery, creativity, and empowerment. Guided by a leadership team including Jamii’s Artistic Director Isorine Marc, Ana Figo as artist-in-residence, and other facilitators, participants explored artistic expression, outdoor skills, and teamwork. Ana led daily workshops in zine-making, visual arts, and creative writing, helping the girls explore their voices, stories, and creativity. The experience fostered confidence, independence, leadership, and creative expression, leaving a lasting impact on both participants and their families. 

Through LAINI Land, Ana reflected on her growth as an emerging artist, noting how she learned to facilitate creative exploration for youth, adapt workshops to different energy levels and personalities, and support participants in finding their own voices. She also gained hands-on experience in collaborative program design, leadership, and outdoor arts integration, strengthening her ability to balance artistic vision with logistical planning.  

In October 2025, Ana joined Jamii on its seventh visit to Pikangikum First Nation, a remote community in Northern Ontario of about 4,000 residents. Alongside Jamii’s Artistic Director Isorine Marc and musician Aline Morales, Ana co-led a series of music workshops for Grades 6-8 students, introducing Brazilian rhythms through drumming and culminating in a community performance. Approximately 235 students participated, and the school has since invited Jamii to expand the project in 2026. 

Alongside the music programming, Ana contributed to Jamii’s ongoing Video Portrait Series, documenting Elders, community leaders, and local youths to preserve voices, stories, and local histories for current and future generations. The 2025 series featured five new portraits, including stories from Lloyd Quill, Michaela Peters-Turtle, Eddie Quill, Valerie Strang, and McDonald Turtle. 

Through Baraza Pikangikum, Ana developed skills in community-based documentary work, learning to engage participants respectfully, capture authentic storytelling, and adapt to different cultural and logistical contexts. She reflected on the importance of listening, honoring participants’ voices, and collaborating with community members to produce work that is both artistically strong and socially meaningful. The experience also expanded her technical skills in photography and videography under varying conditions and with diverse subjects. 

Together, LAINI Land and Baraza Pikangikum exemplify Jamii’s commitment to providing emerging artists like Ana with transformative mentorship, professional growth, and deep insights into community-centered creative practice. Ana Maria Higuera is a self-taught photographer and videographer, whose work captures the poetry, beauty, and extraordinary moments of everyday life, focusing on nature, women, and community initiatives - from Toronto, to Restoule, to Pikangikum. 

We are grateful to the support of the RBC Foundation towards Jamii’s Emerging Artist program.