Journée nationale des Peuples Autochtones

National Indigenous Peoples Day

Friday, June 21, 2019 - 6 to 9 PM

As part of the National Indigenous Peoples Day, La Guilde invites you all to celebrate the launch of the new permanent exhibition's Material Trilogy: One Collection's catalogue, followed by Sayin’ & Wearin’ Indigenous Poetry Evening with Joséphine Bacon, Sylvain Rivard, Craig Commanda and Maya Cousineau Mollen..

Participating poets: :

Maya Cousineau-Mollen holds the position of First Nations and Inuit Community Development Advisor at EVOQ Architecture. Of Innu origin, she has published her writings in anthologies, literary journals and has written a short story in the Amun collection, directed by Michel Jean. Maya Cousineau-Mollen is best known for her involvement in the founding of Université Laval's Conseil des jeunes des Premières Nations du Québec and the Conseil des jeunes des Premières Nations du Québec et du Labrador, now known as Réseau jeunesse des Premières Nations du Québec et du Labrador.

Sylvain Rivard, visual artist, writer and curator of French-Canadian and Abenaki origin, is a reference in First Nations art and culture. Holder of a certificate in multidisciplinary micro-program in children's literature, he publishes ethnographic writings, essays, as well as children's books, including his books of legends and his trilingual series on the art of clothing of the Indigenous. In addition to his multiple book publications, Sylvain Rivard creates artworks exhibited in Canadian and American galleries and museums and was the curator of the First Nations section of the permanent exhibition of La Guilde.

Joséphine Bacon, renowned writer, poet and documentary filmmaker of Innu origin from Pessamit (Quebec), is a laureate of the Mérite du français dans la culture, a member of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and an officer of the Ordre de la Ville de Montréal. She has published numerous books, including her collectionBâtons à message (2010) and Un thé dans la toundra, for which she was a finalist for the Prix du gouverneur général and the Grand prix du livre de Montréal in 2014. Holder of a doctorate honoris causa from Université Laval, Josephine Bacon also received the Prix international Ostana pour écritures en langue maternelle. In addition, she directed the documentaries Ameshkuatan - Les sorties du castor et Mishtikuashisht - Le Petit Grand Européen : Johan Beetz.

Craig Commanda, a multidisciplinary artist, poet and filmmaker from the Anishinaabe community of Kitigan Zibi, is a finalist for the Indigenous Literary Studies Association’s Indigenous Voices Awards 2019 for his poem My Ghosts Roam this Land. Craig Commanda is currently studying in Film Production at Concordia University and did several artist residencies in Banff (Alberta), in New Zealand and in Haïti. In addition to his literary works, he has directed the movies Dream Runner, The Weight, Call and Response and Sour Eye Candy. As a guitarist and bassist, he has also worked as an audio technician for Indigenous Culture and Media Innovations.

PHOTOS: NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, 2019. © La Guilde