31st edition of First Peoples Festival celebrates Indigenous arts and culture

While many of this summer's festivals have been limited by the fact that Canada's borders are still not open to visiting performers, the 31st edition of First Peoples Festival has a distinctly international feel to its programming.

With an emphasis on film projections, the festival is finding ways tohighlightIndigenous stories from around the world.

Festival director Andr Dudemaine told CBC's Daybreakthat creating a festival lineup that provides a platform for artists from all over is an act of solidarity and contact with allIndigenous people.

"In the 21st century, it is internationally that we open our mind and our heart to our Indigenousbrothers and sisters all around the world," he said.

The festival, which runs from Aug. 3 to 12, features screenings of 60 films, live concerts at the Place des Festivals, theatre and visual arts.

Dudemaine, whosemother is from theInnu community of Mashteuiatshon the western shore ofLac Saint-Jean, helped start the festival 30 years ago as a way to valorizeIndigenous art.

"The best ambassadors for a nation arethe artists because they have a language that everybody will automatically connect to," saidDudemaine.

He said the festival provided a place foremerging artists when there was very littlerecognition of Indigenous art and artists.

Dudemaine says things have changed since the festival first began, with Indigenous artists finally being welcomed into mainstream museums and festivals.

Among the events at this year's edition of the festival, more than 60 films will be screenedin competition for the coveted Mattiusi awards, and artists likeBuffalo Hat Singers, husband and wife duo Twin Flames andAnishinaabecountry singerGator Beaulieuwill perform at the Quartier des Spectacles.

Atikamekw playwrightVroniqueHbert is set to share a "poetic-theatrical" performance of "Notcimik, Where Our Blood Comes From."

One of the films being screened atCinma du Museis Haudenosaunee Canoe Journey, created by Mohawk directorRoxann Whitebean.

Watch the trailer for Haudenosaunee Canoe Journey:

The festival will also feature a book launch and some online events, in keeping with the hybrid model adopted by most festivals this summer.

Dudemaine said that the event was forced to go online last year, but they chose to keep virtual elements this year in an effort to expand their offering.

He felt that curating online events were a way to reachlarger audiences and help Indigenous communities who may be spread out to still participate and watch artists from their regions perform in Montreal.

The First Peoples Festival in Montreal runs from Aug. 3 to 12. Find a full schedule of events here.