Dawns, births and other celestial phenomena

RAYMOND DUPUIS
Kachinas Quaqualeum, 2009,
Polyptic composed of 16 paintings
Mixed techniques on cardboard,
101,5 x 101,5 cm (detail)

From time immemorial, the sky and its starry signposts have guided humans across the tundra and shown the way to the seafaring peoples of the Pacific Ocean. Today, the celestial vault watches over the fragile garden that constitutes our earthly habitat. More than ever, the sense of resilience, the survival instinct that leads us to recognize our essential ties with other species of creation, appears as the necessary compass pointing the way to humanity's common future.

So the First Peoples and their cultures have become messengers of hope under the Southern Cross and the Aurora Borealis.

A celebration leading us to the Solstice, to the light, to the rebirth of days.

The international community has solemnly recognized Indigenous peoples' rights in a declaration that the current Canadian government did its utmost to put off signing indefinitely.

The festival, a vital expression of human solidarity and congenial fellowship, strongly endorses the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador's campaign for Canada to restore its lost honour by signing — better late than never — the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The radiant sky invites us to hold our heads high. The drum of solidarity is sounding the call: let the ritual celebration of the deep roots of life begin!

André Dudemaine,
Director, First Peoples' Festival

Montreal's First Peoples' Festival 2007 Awards

TEUEIKAN
First Prize: Le jour avant le lendemain Fic. 93min 2008 CAN Marie-Hélène Cousineau et Madeline Piujuq Ivalu
Second Prize: How People Got Fire Ani. 16min CAN Daniel Janke
Finalist: Sikumi (On the Ice/Sur la glace) Fic. 15min 2008 USA Andrew Okpeaha MacLean

RIGOBERTA MENCHU
First Prize: Suma Qaman~a, Sumak Kausay, Teko Kavi (Por una vida mejor) Doc. 55min 2008 BOL colectivo
Second Prize: River of No Return Doc. 52min 2008 AUS Darlene Johnson
Finalistes: No More Smoke Signals Doc. 90min 2008 SWI Fanny Bräuning, Les sentiers de la création Doc. 52min 2006 POLY Marie-Hélène Villierme

BEST SHORT SUBJECT
Prize: Sikumi (On the Ice/Sur la glace) Fic. 15min 2008 USA Andrew Okpeaha MacLean
Mention honorable: Lost Tribe (Wa Wa Tey Wak/Northern Lights) Exp. 5min50 2007 CAN Bryan Besant
Finalist: Ikwé Exp. 4min45 2009 CAN Caroline Monnet

BEST PHOTO DIRECTION
Prize: Gugara Doc. 69min 2008 POL Jacek Naglowski and Andrzej Dybczak
Mention: Le jour avant le lendemain Fic. 93min 2008 CAN Marie-Hélène Cousineau et Madeline Piujuq Ivalu
Finalist: Rain of the Children Fic. 101min 2008 NZ Vincent Ward

MAIN FILM PRIZE
Ikwé Exp. 4min45 2009 CAN Caroline Monnet

SÉQUENCES: BEST DOCUMENTARY
Prize: Corumbiara, they shoot Indians don't they? Doc. 118min 2009 BRE Vincent Carelli.
Mention: Los Herederos Doc. 90min 2008 MEX Eugenio Polgovsky.
Finalist: Wounded Knee Doc. 79min 2009 USA Stanley Neslon.