Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Projet Autochtone du Québec (PAQ) is a homeless shelter for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, in operation for the past four years. It is open to both men and women, ages 16 to 80. PAQ was set up to give Aboriginal people a place where they could meet others from their community and speak their own languages in peace.

The event is in two parts. First, Paul Rivet, a young Innu and community service provider, will tell us about PAQ and show videos by young people in the Wapikoni Mobile project. In part two, Donald Tremblay, an Innu and residential school survivor, will tell us about his experience. It’s an exceptional opportunity to find out more about the difficulties faced by Aboriginal people, who are also members of the larger intercultural community.

You can reach PAQ at 514-879-3310 (evenings are best).

Bilingual. Paul Cargnello’s career began in his teens. Influenced by political movements, a powerful lyricism and an eclectic mix of musical styles, he has remained faithful to Montreal. In the midst of all our political cynicism, Paul Cargnello is as solid as a rock in his commitment to the cause. His latest album, Brûler le Jour, was written almost entirely in French, with only one song in his native English. The guest of this strange multi-instrumentalist will be rapper Ol1ku. Born in Cameroon, raised in France, he has been living in Montreal since 2000.

In French. Jérôme Minière is a funny one. A bright, sensitive sound hacker who might qualify as “Certifiably Shy”. We like him a lot, and we gave him free rein for this show. He decided to work up something well off the beaten track of pop (incursions into off-road sonic ground?). Expect stories, speech, legends, action (though less than Rambo, say), sounds and oh yes, songs. Diving into the brush with him will be Guido del Fabbro on song/sound, with Dan Popa and Marie Pierre Normand on action/vision/décor. And he will be telling us the truth about trees.

Open mic, bilingual.