Soleil Launière, a pekuakamiulnu creative force

In recent months, she became the first Indigenous artist to win the Francouvertes, in addition to being named a Radio-Canada “Revelation” and giving two performances at the Francos. But Soleil Launière is far from a beginner in the artistic milieu...

Let’s shine a spotlight on this multidisciplinary artist from Mashteuiatsh, the Innu community on the western shore of Lac Saint-Jean.

Her first album, the soulful and rootsy-sounding Taueu, came out last fall. It features 15 tracks in French, English, and Innu-aimun—an Indigenous language she studied with poet Joséphine Bacon in a process of knowledge transfer. “I took a big detour to return to music, but I think it allowed me to become more grounded, more in the moment. My experience with other art forms was used to enhance the musical experience.”

In addition to music, Soleil Launière also explores dance and theatre, her performance art deeply connected to her origins and Innu traditions. On stage, she breaks through as a body-voice performance artist, with an interest in world music, sounds, vocal improvisation, and physical interpretation. “I need to have my body engaged to be a total presence. It’s not necessarily about big movements… it’s about being totally aware of my body. I feel like I connect with things other than just myself too… and that I’m bigger than myself when I really get into that state of mind.”

For the theatre stage, Soleil Launière produced the show Umanishish, directed the play Courir l’Amérique (inspired by books by Serge Bouchard and Marie-Christine Lévesque), created Sheuetamu (a production resulting from the first residency for Indigenous artists at the National Theatre School of Canada), and performed for the Ondinnok theatre (the first Indigenous francophone theatre company in Canada).

In her works, Soleil Launière expresses dreams and thoughts that weave together a rich universe inspired by mythological stories of the creation of the world and inhabited by the sacred spirit that Innu culture attributes to animals. “These aren’t just inspirations… I truly think they’re visions. I saw the White Moose. How do I deconstruct that image? That’s where mythology and technology can blend, to reveal the invisible.”

As with her residency at the National Theatre School, Soleil Launière became the first Indigenous artist to win the Francouvertes. It is worth noting that Indigenous languages have only been eligible in the competition for the past three years. This is an invaluable opportunity to give greater visibility to Indigenous creations and to foster intercultural understanding. “It’s a way to pave the path, to open doors. I hope to continue to inspire as many young Indigenous people as possible to create and to believe that there is a place for them.”

Soleil Launière’s suggestions for making Indigenous arts part of your summer

Go see her show in Joliette on June 21, at the Théâtre Verte, or at the Botanical Garden.

Music: Kanen, Anachnid, Laura Niquay, Willows, Natasha Kanapé-Fontaine.

Reading: Natasha Kanapé-Fontaine, Joséphine Bacon, Naomi Fontaine.

Visual arts: Ana Klaus, Meky Ottawa.

Theatre: Émilie Monnet.

Outing: Innu Nikamu, the Mashteuiatsh Pow-Wow.