Inspiring artists will offer a thematic cultural animation on the Plains of Abraham on Wednesday, July 27

July 26, 2022 – The organization of the papal visit has designed a musical program that will give a very special colour to the July 27 gathering on the Plains of Abraham. From 13 : 30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists will be present on the stage of the Plains’ major events site. Francophones and Anglophones, they come from a wide variety of cultural and spiritual backgrounds. In their own way, these artists will bear witness to the possibility of encounter at the heart of our society.

The theme of the event, “Walking Together: Hope for Reconciliation”, gives a good idea of the tone desired by the organizers for the event. The event will be lived in a sober manner, in a spirit of awareness of the issue of reconciliation, in solidarity with the survivors of the residential schools. We anticipate two highlights, the arrival of the Puamun Meshkenu marchers, and of course the Pope’s visit to the Plains.

Here is an overview of the events, which will be punctuated by the broadcasting on giant screens of the Pope’s arrival at the airport, his speech at the Citadel, and other audiovisual presentations:

• Friends & Folk: Friends & Folks brings together singers Sabrina Hitch, Marily Dorion and André Nadeau from the Quebec City area. They will offer us a luminous and gentle repertoire on the theme of brotherhood!
• Juulie Rousseau, Darlene Gijuminag, Flavie Dufour : Gathered within the group Vent’Wela, the three women of migmag and Quebecois origin carry songs of unity linked to benevolence and connection to nature. To the rhythm of their hearts and their drums they offer a celebration of peace. Darlene is a Migmag singer-songwriter from Gascapegiag. She teaches Aboriginal culture and spirituality to women and children. Flavie Dufour is a spoken word artist, singer and composer who connects people through vocal improvisation and poetry. Juulie Rousseau is an author -composer and performer who draws her inspiration from her travels and the human links she weaves along the way.
• Puamun Meshkenu: The marchers are currently walking 275 km and will reach the Plains of Abraham at the Edwin-Bélanger Bandstand between 1 and 2 p.m. on July 27. They will then begin the final leg of their walk and will be welcomed into the heart of the program immediately after Pope Francis’ arrival at the Quebec City airport. A delegation will testify on the main stage about their experience and their common goal of healing and reconciliation.
• Matt Maher: Matt Maher is a contemporary Christian singer-songwriter from Newfoundland. Three of his nine albums have reached the Billboard Top 25 Christian Albums chart. His repertoire includes spiritual pieces with a focus on community.
• Black Bear: Black Bear is a group of pow-wow drummers from Manawan, in the Atikamekw Nation, who have been performing since the 2000s.
• Beatrice Deer: Beatrice Deer is a Canadian Inuk singer-songwriter born in Quaqtaq, Nunavik. In 2021, she was the winner of the Canadian Indigenous Music Awards.
• Maten: Maten is an Innu group from Uashat mak Mani-utenam that has been active since the late 1990s. It has produced three albums. It is made up of Samuel Pinette, Mathieu McKenzie and Kim Fontaine.
• Laura Niquay : Laura Niquay is an Atikamekw singer-songwriter. She was the first Atikamekw artist to perform at the FrancoFolies de Montreal in 2011. In 2021, she released Waska Matisiwin, an album that was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize.
• Scott Pien Picard: Scott Pien is an Innu singer-songwriter from Uashat mak Mani-Utenam. He won the Talents Bleus competition and was nominated for the Aboriginal Artist of the Year award at the 2021 ADISQ gala.
• Florent Vollant : Florent Vollant is an Innu singer, guitarist and songwriter from Uashat mak Mani-Utenam. He became known to the general public through the music duo Kashtin before embarking on a solo career.