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Brave’s new world
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by ROXANE HUDON “Quebec is celebrating 400 years, but we have been here for over 10,000 years,” says Métis rapper Samian of Canada’s native people. Since the release of his debut album, Face à soi-même, in 2007, the 25-year-old Franco-Algonquin artist has become a voice for his people, rapping about everything from substance abuse and gambling to healing and forgiveness. Born in Pikogan, a reserve in Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Samian always had a passion for poetry. His writing took on a new beat after a chance meeting with filmmaker Manon Barbeau, who visited his community in 2004 with a project called Wapikoni Mobile, helping young native people create their own movies and music. “It’s then that I started making rap music, that I learned how to record. Before, I was only writing,” says Samian. He also became the project’s spokesperson, travelling across Quebec and Europe. Along the way, he gained the attention of veterans of the Quebec hip hop scene, Loco Locass. They collaborated with Samian on his first hit, “La Paix des Braves,” a powerful song about breaking barriers between nations. “They have the same cause in their hearts as I do,” notes Samian. His politicized lyrics and unique combination of modern rap beats with traditional native chants has assured him gigs in many of the city’s hottest festivals, including les FrancoFolies and the Jazz Fest. Tonight, Samian performs as part of Coup de Coeur Francophone, which focuses on emerging artists. “It’s hard to break through in the music world, especially in rap. I was the first to be surprised by my success, because I write about what is close to my heart.” An important factor in writing about his native identity was being able to sing in his mother tongue, a langue he had forgotten. “The Algonquin language is not passed down well. It’s a language that I lost. I learned it for my songs. I’m singing the language to be able to speak it. My great-grandmother didn’t speak French or English, only Algonquin. I’m doing it for her as well.” While Samian looks up to his ancestors, many of his peers are looking up to him. His constant defense of native culture and rights has turned him into a role model for many young native people. “It’s cool, but it’s mutual. They inspire me as well. I want to help them by saying out loud what most of them are thinking to themselves.” And helping them is something he is taking seriously. “I participated in an initiative on reserves to stop kids from dropping out of school. I want to talk to them about my own path, my story. There is a problem of self-esteem in native communities. They think their dreams can’t come true. I want to show them it’s possible by sharing my story.” He adds that this negative image and low self-esteem is a result of a negative history. Through the messages in his songs, Samian wants to change this with a positive outlook on the future of native people. “Fifty years ago, in the residential schools, it was shameful to be aboriginal. The missionaries told them that aboriginals scalped and burned people. They taught them only shame. I want to transform that shame into pride.” WITH BALOJI AT CABARET TONIGHT, |
