The Montreal International First Peoples Festival unveiled the programming for its 35th edition during a press conference on Wednesday. It runs Aug. 5 to 14 at Place des Festivals.
The festival will offer everything from film to music, performances like drumming, and even skateboarding.
André Dudemaine, Director of Cultural Activities for Land InSights, said it’s common to say that Montreal is an Indigenous land, but when looking around, people can see that they’ve lost some ground. He added that they have to regain this urban presence in the city.
“I think it’s important because the festival is not only there for one week. It is part of the landscape of Montreal now,” he said. “And it is important because it is like we say, ‘terre en vue,’ land in sight. It’s part of our soul to Montreal. And we have to take it back, at least symbolically, with our activities, with our symbols, with our arts.”
Sanajiit ᓴᓇᔩᑦ (Inuit Makers) is an innovative documentary series that offers an immersive journey into the heart of Inuit creativity and tradition, life as it unfolds naturally in real time. It’ll be presented at the NFB Space and the Daphne Art Centre from Aug. 8 to 10.
There will also be film screenings in Kahnawake, in collaboration with the cultural centre and the Eastern Connection Film Festival.
As part of this anniversary, an exhibition is being prepared at the Grande Bibliothèque to highlight the continuity of the event. It’s called Indigenous Presences: Graphic Design and Mirrored Cultures. It’s produced by BAnQ in partnership with Land Insights and in collaboration with the Société des designers graphiques du Québec, and will run from Aug. 1 to 31.
The festival will end with a screening of the feature film Free Leonard Peltier. Peltier is an Indigenous activist who was jailed for decades after a disputed conviction.
“We are really proud of this accomplishment,” Dudemaine said.
