Innu Nikamu: Chanter la résistance (2017) - Fighting against racism, prejudice and oblivion - 8/10 (11/12/18)

Innu Nikamu is the name of a cultural music festival celebrated annually by First Nations in Maliotenam, in North-Eastern Quebec, Canada. It's also a documentary that tells the background story of said festival, its location and the First Nations involved in it. The documentary has a lenth of one hour and thirty-six minutes and was made by local filmmaker Kevin Bacon Hervieux. The film was presented at numerous occasions, including a tour with famous Innu singer Florent Vollant who was once a member of folk rock duo Kashtin. He is also one of the numerous people that were interviewed in the documentary.

The movie tells the tragic history of First Nations in Quebec, Canada and even all around the world with the help of the example of those who lived and continue to live in Maliotenam. Indian families were forced to leave the northern parts of Quebec and Labrador and were relocated to desolate reservations. First Nations children and teenagers were then forced to go to religious boarding schools were they were forced to speak French and English, get rid of their cultural and religious beliefs and were often physically and sexually abused which led to torn families, desperate suicide attempts and severe drug addictions until today. The fact that the Catholic boarding school was torn apart and its last remnants set on fire decades after it had closed, was seen as a spiritual liberation and the fact that the festival now takes place at this very same spot is a way for First Nations to attempt to reappropriate their cultures. More and more artists, institutions and journalists support this festival and actively fight against racism, prejudice and oblivion.

Just like the brilliant drama Indian Horse, released in the same year, this documentary should be shown in high schools all around Quebec and Canada. It teaches about the country's and province's past, present and future. It actively fights against racism, prejudice and oblivion. It spreads a message of togetherness to overcome obstacles of the past and establish a bright future for every Canadian citizen. If you consider yourself a human rights activist or sympathize with them, you should definitely watch this film.