Wendake creates first ever Native literature gathering

The Huron-Wendat village of Wendake near Quebec City created a world premiere with its creation of the Carrefour des literatures autochtones de la Francophonie (CILAF). This gathering of Native writers from the Francophone world was a resounding success; such a success in fact that it far exceeded all expectations. There was standing room only at the closing performance. Thirty-one authors participated in this literary event never seen before. From New Caledonia, to Casablanca, Tahiti, Polynesia, Algeria and Canada, the writers came, bringing with them their talents, their cultures and their common passion for writing. From lands and nations which had previously carried their stories and histories in oral narration, they gathered here to celebrate the written form of their stories and perspectives, forever preserved in print.
Leading up to and in preparation for the Carrefour, was the Words from Early Times activity, a series of legend-telling gatherings that highlighted First Nations' oral traditions. So popular was each session that Tourisme Wendake organizers had to open larger rooms and Inuit guide Mona Belleau had to repeatedly offer more bannock to those waiting eagerly to get in. Then with the opening of the CILAF, public focus went to the written word of Native literature.
How were the authors chosen? "They had to be published authors from a French-speaking country and of course, speak and write in their native language," explained Louis-Karl Siouï-Picard whose dream produced the CILAF.
Picard-Siouï, a Huron-Wendat author and artist who works for the Centre de dÈveloppement de la formation et de la main d'oeuvre in Wendake (CDFM) had dreamed of gathering French-writing Native authors together.
"It took three years to prepare but it is now a reality. Not only is it a first in Quebec City, in Quebec, in North America but in the world,"declared a pleased Picard-Siouï, who then joked,"Who knows? It's probably a first in the galaxy!"
His humour was not lost on the crowd full of creative Native people to whom words are a delight and humour is a unifying element. All week, the authors gathered in daily workshops, exchanging and learning from each other. Evening readings were open to the public and recorded on the First Nations Education Council (FNEC) Web site so the greater public could enjoy the authors in communities around the world.
One evening of public readings showcased the results of a special long-distance intercultural writing project. Each Native Francophone author had been paired up with a non-Native French-speaking peer and encouraged to correspond. For several months, the authors wrote to each other and the interactive writing was published in a separate anthology from which the pairs of colleagues presented together on stage. For many, it was the first time they had met in person.
The CILAF proudly launched an anthology of Native literature from the collected poems, play extracts and narratives by the thirty-one participating writers. The title Mots de neige, de sable et d'océan is meant to reflect the diverse backgrounds of its authors. Collected by Maurizio Gatti, an associated researcher with Laval University's Centre interunversitaire d'tudes et de recherchers autochtones (CIRA) and published by the CDFM, it was edited by Louis-Karl Picard-Siouï.
Mots de neige, de sable et d'océan was officially launched midweek. "I get goose bumps right now by just remembering the incredibleness of that moment," said Marcel Godbout, cultural agent with the CDFM for this event.
"All of those authors from all over the world were sitting around the authors' table for the autograph signing."
Godbout, deeply touched by the significance of the moment, remembers the years of work, vision and planning that made Picard-Siouï's dream come true and knew then, that it was all worth it. Seeing Native cultures honoured and shared is Godbout's greatest motivation and reward.
Authors from around the world included, New Caladonian Kanac Luc Enoka Camoui; Moroccan Barbar Mohamed Agoujil, Casablancan Nadia Chafik; French Polynesian Rai Chaze and Jean-Marc Pambrun; Algerian Salem Zenia, and Tahitian Acadamian Flora Devatine.
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Canadian First Nations were represented by Huron-Wendat poets, playwrights and writers including Jean Siouï, Georges Siouï, Yolande Okia Picard, Sylvie-Anne Siouï-Trudel, Louis-Karl Picard-Siouï, Yves Siouï-
Durand and Wendat/Wabanaki Christine Siouï Wawanoloath . Innu writers included Jean-Louis Fontaine, Innu/Wendat Geneviéve Mackenzie-Siouï, Réal Leblanc, Mélina Vassiliou, Maya Cousineau-Mollen and Jacinthe Connolly, Charles Coocoo, the first Attikamek to publish a poetry collection, Algonquin Métis Michel NoÎl, and Cree writer Tomson Highway.
Highway, an internationally-renowned Manitoba author, playwright and musician, wrote the preface to the Mots de neige, et de sable et d'océan anthology. Highway speaks fluent French though his work is best known in the English language.
Highway lives six months a year in France and plans to continue writing in French.
Asked by moderator Louis Hamelin about his three languages, Highway responded: "Cree is the language of my heart; English is the language of my head and...French?" a beaming Highway laughs: "Well, French is somewhere in the middle."
He is trying to write less in English and more in Cree or French.
"English is such a serious language," said Highway. "But Cree, you know, is at least five times funnier!''
Minutes before Highway's comments, Marcel Godbout had been asked about the Wendake Arts Festival that had just been held beside the new Huron-Wendat Hotel. It too had exceeded all expectations.
"We are very pleased," said a happy Godbout who admits that Tourisme Wendake had had a difficult first fall last year, but it has since "made a lot of changes, done a real cleaning up, and is now on the right track."
The success of recent top-quality events including this summer's pow wow are certain proof. Last year's events had been criticized for not involving the people of Wendake but this summer and fall, villagers were at all events especially at the CILAF's jam-packed closing show .
The closing show featured special guests Florant Vollant and Gilles Siouï whose ever-popular and familiar music rocked the tent. Villagers and visitors alike united in a chain dance around the tent in celebration.
Local and international performing artists like Wendat silversmith Michel Savard who performed traditional Huron-Wendat chants and Inuit throat singers, alternately shared the stage with small groups of writers who read from their week's work.
CILAF, Tahitian writer Flora Devatine, expressed the common hope that the event be repeated, and offered four necklaces for the four corners of the earth, as traditional symbolic parting gifts.
She chose to give a necklace to Wendat writers Louis-Karl Siouï-Picard, Georges Siouï, Yolande Okia Picard and Innu writer André Dudémaine to honour them for their role as "carriers of the spirit of the Native people here."