KWE! We’ve Got Something to Share
Indigenous Peoples have stories to tell. The 11 artists, each representing one of Quebec’s Indigenous Nations, express in their ancestral language what it means to give a voice to their people.
NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN TO SING
The floor is now yours. We invite you to participate in the KaraoKWE. You will not only discover the 11 Indigenous languages spoken in Quebec but also learn some words along the way and to truly understand their words.
You can download our learning tutorial to access the song’s lyrics, pronunciation, and meaning.Feel free to add it to your YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Music playlist.
Also, feel free to add it to your YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Music playlist.
Official video clip
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Serge Fiori
Serge Fiori is a Québécois guitarist, singer-songwriter, and composer. He is best known as the lead figure of Harmonium, the iconic progressive rock band that marked Quebec’s music scene in the 1970s.
Mathieu McKenzie et Samuel Pinette (Maten)
Innu
Both members of the Innu band Maten from Mani-utenam on Quebec’s North Shore, their lyrics reflect deep commitment to their community, language, and Innu roots.
Special thanks to Mathieu McKenzie, Kim Fontaine, and Nelly Jourdain for their contribution to the lyrics editing.
Ivan Boivin-Flamand
Atikamekw
A singer-songwriter, he began his musical journey at the age of five. His music and lyrics are mainly inspired by his little brother Alex.
Sandrine Masse Savard
Wendat
Her songs, full of humanity, offer a perspective on the world as a Wendat artist. Her works transport us through various timeless soundscapes, woven into stories in French, English, or Wendat.
Special thanks to Megan Lukaniec for contributing to the Wendat lyrics.
Quentin Condo (Q052)
Mi’gmak
Rapper and activist, Quentin Condo, also known as Q052, is a father of six. His work as a community leader, grassroots warrior, and musician shares a common goal: a better future for the next generation.
Special thanks to Joe Wilmot for contributing to the Mi’gmaq lyrics.
Allan Nabinacaboo et Chris Nabinacaboo (Violent Ground)
Naskapi
Violent Ground consists of two brothers from the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach. They are composers and lyricists who aim to enlighten and inspire audiences with powerful lyrics and their unique rap music style.
Édith Bélanger
Wolastoqey
A member of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation, she combines her commitment to Indigenous issues with her passion for music, creating a cultural dialogue through her compositions.
Special thanks to Roseanne Clark, Lisa Perley-Dutcher, Louis-Xavier Aubin-Bérubé, and Robert Levitt for contributing to the Wolastoqey lyrics.
Élise Boucher-DeGonzague
W8banaki
Élise’s music echoes Quebec and the stories of its people through her melodies. With a mixed heritage of w8banaki and quebecois, she shares the story of her nation. Her voice blends intimacy and tenderness with strength and resonance.
Special thanks to Nicole O’Bomsawin and Daniel Gauthier Nolett for contributing to the W8banaki lyrics.
Joey Partridge (Juurini)
Innuttitut
Juurini draws inspiration from the vast landscapes of Kuujjuaq, Nunavik. Through his music, he shares memories of the North, evoking the scents and sounds that greet him each morning, all wrapped in a folk ambient style.
Paul Napash (PaulStar)
Eeyou
Paul Napash, known as PaulStar, is a Eeyou (Cree) artist, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, sound engineer, and CEO of Meikin Records/PaulStar Entertainment. Based in Ottawa, he has notably contributed to teaching music production to cree students. Recognized for his collaborations and nominations as “Producer of the Year” at the International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards, he is signed with Beatstars/Sony Music Publishing.
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André Mowatt
Anishinabemowin
André Mowatt is an Anicinabe cultural guide and educator from the Anicinape Abitibiwinni First Nation. He grew up nomadically in the forest and witnessed a turning point in history. Through his poignant and authentic stories, he shares "the other side of the story," inviting society to challenge its preconceptions and to start a vital dialogue for the reconciliation of peoples.
Skanaie:’a Deer
Kanien’keha :ka
Skanaie:’a Deer, from the Bear Clan, lives in Kahnawà:ke. She brings her soprano voice to the Kahnawà:ke mixed choir and contributes as an assistant facilitator at the Iakwahwatsiratátie Language Nest, enriching her community through language, culture, and music.
Special thanks to Mary Nicholas for contributing to the Kanien’keha:ka lyrics.
The original idea
One morning, I woke up with the idea of taking the Harmonium song that says, “Where did all those people go who had something to say” and translating it into the 11 Indigenous languages of Quebec. I then reached out to Serge Fiori, who didn’t hesitate for a second and agreed to lend us his lyrics.
It was his idea to convert the original lyrics into a response to the question: What does it mean to give your people a voice? And that’s how each of the 11 Indigenous artists from Quebec sings their answer, in segments of the song, in their ancestral language.
THANK TO OUR PARTNER
