The richness, diversity, and dynamism of aboriginal cultures will be showcased once again at the 23rd First Peoples’ Festival in Montreal. The first inhabitants of North America will be honored once more by the constituents of the largest city of the Canadian province of Quebec. The festival is designed to highlight the art, traditions, and history of traditional and contemporary American aboriginal communities.
July 30 to August 5
The festival is known in French, Montreal’s official language, as “Présence Autochtone” (Aboriginal presence). This year, the festival starts on July 30 and ends in August 5. Thousands of people are expected to turn up for concerts, film showings, dances and other aboriginal performances.
In the First Peoples’ Festival the main object of the organizers was to celebrate indigenous films and filmmakers. In the years since, the festival now boasts of the biggest archival collection of indigenous films available for perusal online. For this reason, film screenings continue to dominate the weeklong festivities. On July 30, the 23rd First People’s Festival in Montreal will open with the world premiere of “Paroles Amérikoises,” a film about an Innu poet, Rita Mestokosho and the plight of her people, transferred to a remote reserve by the federal government. This film by Pierre Bastien will be screened at the Grand Bibiliothèque auditorium.
There will also be photo exhibition featuring the Long Walk of Innu women for last year’s observance of Earth Day. A discovery tour will showcase Aboriginal Montreal, while children can participate in a fun and interesting introduction to archeology. The week will eventually close with the premier of the film, “Winter in the Blood” adapted from the novel written by James Welch, a Blackfeet author.
A musical extravaganza
The multi-talented Québécois film director and folk singer Richard Desjardins is expected to perform as well as Canadian Inuk singer Beatrice Deer. Other featured artists are Cree duo CerAmony and Digging Roots, Aboriginal alternative indie band.
The 23rd Présence Autochtone
President, co-founder and this year’s artistic director, André Dudemaine revealed in a media release that the festival is a cultural event that is constant and is “a presence,” as its French name suggests. Dudemaine added that on its 23rd year, the celebration flows from “a far more ancient presence,” referring to the cultures of the original inhabitants of the continent that have persisted for millennia. He also sent out a reminder that despite various activities intended to erase or render invisible the mark of the first peoples, Montreal, with utmost dignity and pride, will continue holding a festival called “Présence Autochtone” in their honor.
This year’s weeklong celebration features the hatchet which is evident in the visual artworks, sculpture, films, literature, music and poetry that will be exhibited throughout the duration of the festival. Dudemaine said that the hatchet is a symbol that “hits hard and loud” and sends the festival’s message across.
Dressing up for the festivities
As in previous years a 100-foot tipi will be erected at the traditional venue for the annual festivities – the Place de Festivals in downtown Montreal. Other sites within the city are preparing for the many different events scheduled. There is also a grand celebration that will be held at Kahnawake which is Mohawk territory on the opposite banks of the St. Lawrence River.
Photo Credit: The Place de Festivals in Montreal dressing up for the Presence Autochtone in 2012
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