The father-daughter duo composed of Matthiew Jourdain and Laurence Jourdain performed on the stage of the Innu Nikamu festival on August 1, in Mani-Unam. Singing together allows them to share and perpetuate the innue language with young generations.
Laurence Jourdain wanted to sing in her language, the innu-love, because she is keen to show young people that we must preserve the language, to make them light that the language is getting lost
she insists.
Laurence Jourdain wishes to transmit the Innu language to young people, in her songs.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Élia Rousseau
The young artist has already performed secondary school and at the Innu Nikamu festival in recent years.
When I was young, it was one of my biggest dreams. I told my father that I was too going to go up on this scene
recalls Laurence Jourdain, proud of what she has accomplished so far.
Matthiew Jourdain and his daughter Laurence Jourdain will sing their Nanikutini play on the scene of the Innu Nikamu festival.
Photo : Radio-Canada
Knowing that his father, Matthiew Jourdain, is by his side reassures her. I feel more comfortable when he is with me on stage, I feel more safe.
It is a great pride for Matthiew Jourdain to be able to share the scene with his daughter. It’s an environment that gives dreams, you can express yourself, say what you feel
he specifies.
The Innu Nikamu festival, which takes place in the community of Mani-Unam, represents an important event for the Jourdain family.
We come from here [de Uashat mak Mani-utenam]so it’s in us. Personally, Innu Nikamu makes me dream. It has existed for 41 years, I am 38 years old. It’s part of my life.
For Matthiew Jourdain, making music is a lifestyle in Mani-Unam.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Élia Rousseau
A microalbum to preserve the innue culture and transmit it
Last spring, Matthiew Jourdain and his daughter Laurence Jourdain produced a microalbum of five songs, including a song in French that is entitled My rootswritten by Quebec parolier and author, Martine Pratt.
We found it very important to have a song in French to make the nominers understand what we are trying to explain in our songs
specifies Laurence Jourdain.
The objective of this album is also to transmit innue culture to the younger generations. We are very focused on the language [innue] Because we have noticed recently that the language has a lot of difficulty in staying
adds the father.
The duo does not stop writing and producing songs. However, they want to take advantage of the present moment. According to Matthiew Jourdain, projects come to them.
