Place des Festivals transfigured
The Place des Festivals is transfigured with a scenography by Studio 703; it has been impregnated with the cosmovision of the First Peoples and has drawn inspiration from contemporary Aboriginal artists who translate, in their own way, the rich spiritual and artistic heritage of the territory.
A visual and luminous dressing has been specially designed for the First People’s Festival, including a multimedia creation by Caroline Monnet and Sébastien Aubin of the AM collective.
A significant architecture
The large, central tipi evokes the vertical axis that unites the sky, the earth and the underwater world. At the top, a flock of geese is reminiscent of the birds that brought Atahensic, the woman of heaven, to the first day of the world. At ground level, the turtle represents the marine world, and its shell, the earth's crust it carries on its back.
The Longhouse is a traditional Iroquois architecture. It is very typical of Montreal.
Tipis are a form of textile architecture that evokes the Prairies and Taiga.
The deer in the fountains refer to the animal world, and the nurturing forest. The streams of water represent the soul that gives life to Creation.
Wall projections
From Wednesday August 7th to Sunday August 12th
9:00 pm to 11:00 pm, alternately, every night.
A multimedia mural was specially designed for the 2014 edition by the AM Collective composed of the Anishinabe artist Caroline Monnet and the Cree artist Sébastien Aubin. The geometric frames and bright colors are drawn from the rich visual heritage of the Native American imaginary.
In 2017, the two artists signed a new work freely inspired by the myth of the Enemy Twins.
A sequence signed by Michel Poulin (Aludel) is a tribute to Mother Earth as seen by Indigenous People. The video evokes the birth of the world, the first spark of life, the crossing of the Missinak Turtle, to us. A representation closing the loop between tradition and modernity, between the roots (the tradition, the memory) of the tree (the human community), and the summit of its branches sloping towards the future.
With a series of hand-made black-and-white animations, the AM Collective (Sébastien Aubin, Caroline Monnet) seeks to illustrate the traditional Anishinaabe story of the two enemy brothers who created our natural landscape. Abstract lines, contemporary images and robust typography make up a visual experience that communicates the closeness of two opposing entities that are linked beyond their differences. By creating a subtle experience of attraction and opposition, oscillating between light and dark, interspersed with moments of stillness, AM leaves the viewer in a position of ambivalence where he must accept that one cannot exist without its opposite.
Traditional arts in honor
Northern voice
From august 9 to 11, Place des festivals
The Northern Voice is a contemporary drum group from Wemotaci. They recently recorded their third album entitled Kikawino aski, The Guardians of the Earth. The band members have been singing together for over 5 years and travel all over the Pow Wow trail. Their album In Land We Trust has been nominated in the category of Best Contemporary Album at the 2015 Indigenous Music Awards. They will continue to share their culture through their songs. Aho mikwetc
Buffalo Hat Singers
August 8, Place des festivals
The drums of the Buffalo Hat Singers, the traditional dances (with the Deer Family Mohawk Dancers) and the fire where game meats are grilled express our attachment to Mother Earth and our belonging to the unity of living things. In the shadow of the great teepee, whether they are Mohawks, Naskapi, Inuit, Atikamekw ou Innu, the artists take up the thread uniting us to the ancestors whose spirit continues to live in contemporary creation.
Mohawk Singers and Dancers from Kahnawà:ke
Thursday August 8 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm
Friday, August 9, 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm
Sunday, August 11, 4:00 pm and 7:15 pm
on the Québecor stage
Family of traditional dancers and singers from the Mohawk community of Kahnawake. The troupe is very involved in a variety of Aboriginal events and they are doing a lot of outreach on Mohawk culture and teaching about traditions.
Gilbert Niquay
Multiples performances - Place des festivals
Saturday august 10 from 1:30 pm à 3:00 pm, accompanied by Northern Voice - alternating with Emilio Wawatie and his guitar
Sunday august 11 from 2:00pm to 7:15 pm accompanied by Northern Voice - alternating with Emilio Wawatie and his guitar
Born in Manawan, an Atikamekw community in the far north of Lanaudière, Gilbert Niquay is a pow-wow dancer specializing in hoop dancing since many years. Currently completing the Certificate program Substance Abuse : Prevention and Rehabilitation at the University of Montreal, he recently obtained a Certificate in Psychosocial Intervention at UQAM. He worked in his community as a mental health worker with the Mirermowin program at the Masko-Siwin Health Center in Manawan for almost 4 years. He is very involved in his community, notably in the fields of education and general health. He also participates in festivals and pow-wows to express his Atikamekw Nehirowisiw pride. He is, moreover, an artist : he makes regalia, crafts and he is proactive in the transmission of indigenous knowledge and cultural values.
Sam Ojeda
Multiples performances - Place des festivals
Thrusday august 8 from noon to 4:00 pm accompanied by the Buffalo Hat Singers
Friday august 9 from noon to 6:00 pm accompanied by Northern Voice - alternating with Esther Pennell
Samuel Ojeda is from the southwest, born in 1957 in northwestern Mexico in Mayo - Yoreme land. Samuel is a man who has deep respect and love for nature and the Native American ways. He is a teacher, a translator, a storyteller, a ceremonialist, a pow-wow drummer and singer, a flute player, a guitar player, a traditional dancer, a sweat lodge helper and fire keeper, a drum maker, and an artisan.
Samuel travelled to Valenciennes, France in 2007 on a cultural exchange; his flute recordings have appeared on German radio in 2010. Samuel's artwork has the honour of being displayed in Native exhibits in Western Europe, and his one-man crafts company, Runs-on-Fire, continues to flourish as his hand-made objects continue to be sought the world-over by healers and medicine helpers. Samuel continues to participate in conferences, workshops, sharings, and talks on
Native American issues, giving his unconditional support to the people who promote the well-being of our beloved Mother Earth through his art and prayer.
Naskapis
From August 9 to 11 : 12:00 pm to 08:00 pm
Naskapi legends and stories of the past
Naskapi tale translated into English:
Thursday: 4:00 pm, Friday: 6:45 pm, Saturday: 3:00 pm, Sunday: 8:00 pm
Naskapi tale translated into French:
Thursday: 6:45 pm, Friday: 3:45 pm, Saturday: 4:30 pm, Sunday: 6:00 pm
Come listen to legends and stories from Northern Quebec’s past through which you will discover Naskapi the language, worldview, and cultural identity.
Labrador Tea Tasting
You are invited to come discover the healing properties of Labrador tea, a plant that is culturally significant for the Naskapi people.
Naskapi Book Sale
Here you will find a large collection of children’s story books in the Naskapi language. You will also be able to purchase books of stories and legends as told by John Peastitute, a late Naskapi Elder.
