KWE! celebrates Indigenous cultures at the Grand Spectacle
Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
cassandra@qctonline.com
On the Summer Solstice, Canadians celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day. In Quebec City, the eighth KWE! Meet with Indigenous Peoples festival crowned the celebrations with a free concert, this time, on the steps of the National Assembly.
All day, people stopped to listen to the soundchecks. Artists jokingly said, “If you want to hear the rest of the songs, you’ll have to come back this evening.” They did and in great numbers, filling every space from the stage, around the Fontaine de Tourny to the remparts, even climbing on top of them. Hundreds of spectators watched and listened in awe, admiration and respect.
As the hot, cloudless first day of summer came to an end, KWE! celebrated the 11 First Nations and Inuit of Quebec with a free concert in partner- ship with the Quebec govern- ment. Public officials including Quebec minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit Ian Lafrenière; Ghislain Picard, the former grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations Québec-Labrador; Wendat Grand Chief Rémy Vincent; Lt.- Gov. Manon Jeannotte, former chief of the Mi’kmaq Nation of Gespeg and the first Indigenous lieutenant governor of Quebec; and city councillor Maude Mercier Larouche were present for the opening ceremony.
Northern Voice set the beat on a ceremonial drum to the breathtaking throat singing by Sandy Emudluk and Janice Parsons as dancers performed a traditional powwow dance.
Internationally renowned violinist and composer Geneviève Gros-Louis then came on- stage. From her first note to her last, she captivated the growing audience under the setting sun. The Wendat composer skilfully and melodically blended music inspired by Indigenous traditions with modern elements. Through her work and art, she addresses important concerns such as mental health and women’s issues. She has composed music for the National Geographic Channel series Life Below Zero and the Cannes Film Festival event presenting the Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon, honouring the Osage people. This evening was all about her heritage and that of the 11 First Nations and Inuit of Quebec. Singer Keyara Gros-Louis and traditional dancers accompanied her performance.
Following this outstanding opening set, Abenaki actor and entertainer Xavier Watso got the crowd laughing. “We are here this evening to celebrate our culture with you and to show everyone that we are strong and proud,” he said. “Let’s make enough noise to make the statues on the Parliament building behind me shake!” He then named the different First Nations to discover who was from where, with the loudest cheer coming for the nearby Wendat Nation.
Members of each nation stepped onto the stage to sing in their native language. Punctuated by throat singing, one by one, they sang “Un musicien parmi tant d’autres” by Serge Fiori, to enthusiastic applause.
They then left room for the performers of the evening: Florent Vollant and his guests, including Zachary Richard, Maten, Dumas, Ivan Boivin- Flamand, Hauterive, Scott-Pien Picard and Vincent Vallières.