First Nations art, history to be featured at festival

First Nations creativity and history are at the forefront of the inaugural, two-day Rencontres autochtones à Rigaud which begins April 13. The event is organized by the Rigaud-based Vent-Arts organization and begins with the screening of two films, the Wapikoni Mobile short film Nous nous soulèverons (We Will Rise Up) featuring Innu poet Natasha Kanapé Fontaine, followed by Althea Arnaquq-Baril’s award-winning NFB documentary Inuk en colère (Angry Inuk), which traces the devastating economic and cultural effect the anti-sealhunt lobby has had on her community. Both films will be screened at the Pavillon Louis- Querbes at Collège Bourget, beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Day Two begins with a 45-minute screening of animated short films for children at the Rigaud Library. Start time is 11 a.m. and admission is free. Still at the library and after a snack break, historian Archie Martin — a fourth generation Mi’kmaq — gives a lecture. The talk is preceded by the screening of a short film by Daniel Bertolino. Start time is 1 p.m. Admission is free. Back at Collège Bourget, there is a 3 p.m. screening of around 80 minutes of short films either by First Nations filmmakers or addressing First Nations issues. Kevin Bacon-Hervieux’s documentary Innu Nikamu: Chanter la résistance screens at 5 p.m. The film looks at the long-standing music event within the Malioteman community and how the power of the music helps shape the community. All activities are in French. The festival closes with singersongwriter Laura Niquay performing at Café de l’horloge, 168 rue StPierre, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, througheventbrite.ca, and $15 at the door. For more details, visit facebook.com/ventarts.