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Outdoor site

ÉMILIE-GAMELIN PARK, JUNE 20, 21 AND 22

Montreal Island has been ameeting place for thousands of years. Many names of streets, neighbourhoods and other places of interest still evoke the First Nations’ presence on the island. At First Peoples’ Festival outdoor site, taking possession of Émilie Gamelin Park for three days as the Summer Solstice arrives; once again Montreal becomes a prime location for meetings and exchanges with the First Nations.

The site takes on the aspect of an ancestral campground where more than forty craftpersons from different nations display their art crafts. These includeminiatures of objects frommaterial culture, jewellery, basketweaving, musical instruments, games and toys as well as garments and adornments. There is a wide range of techniques and materials on display, from porcupine quill embroidery, weaving sweetgrass, knotting babiche (strips of gut or leather used inmaking seats and snowshoes), as the craftspersons demonstrate their skills.

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Songs and dances

Friday afternoon is dedicated to many forms of songs and chants from the Aboriginal repertory: Abenaki social singing, Inuit throat singing, Atayal folk singing, liturgical chants from St. Lawrence missions, incantations, lullabies and other sounds.

On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, we will host the ever-popular Boréades de la danse Loto-Québec which will resound in the four directions. The Mohawks, Nimpucs, Abenakis and Wendats will perform the Eastern dances. TheWestern nations will be represented by the rhythms and steps of the Powwow movement. A single Ojibway / Cree dance will mark the North while the colourful Mexican repertory will bring us the South.

Living museums

The row of booths bordering St. Catherine Street will welcome Aboriginal cultural institutions, such as the Amerindian Museum at Masteuiatsh,the Abenaki Museum at Odanak and the Micmac interpretation site at Gespeg as the major Montreal museums such as the McCord Museum of Canadian History and Pointe-à- Callière, musée d'archéologie et d'histoire.

Archaeologists at work

Archaeology buffs will be thrilled by our big tent housing the interpretation centre from the Droulers- Tsiionhiakwatha archaeological site, the scientific agency Recherches amérindiennes au Québec and the Pointe-du-Buisson Archaeological Park. Take some time to discuss their work with the archaeologists on hand, to consult the Recherches amérindiennes publications, to learn more about ancient artefacts and to attend demonstrations of stonecutting and other techniques once used by Québec First Nations.

The Atayals

Taiwan is one of Asia’s most highly-industrialized countries. But beyond Taipei’s skyscrapers and dense urban population, the Atayals, one of the island’s six indigenous ethnic groups, live in themountainous Hualien region.

This year, two Atayals will display different facets of their rich craft traditions at the festival's outdoor site. These include jewellery, textiles, wooden sculptures as well as traditional songs.

The NFB Cinema lobby will also display striking photos of Atayal women's facial tattoos.

In cooperation with the government of Taiwan.