Lac-Simon : Anishnabe

The name Anishinabeg means “true men from this land”. In Lac-Simon, more than 75% of the population speaks Anishinaabemowin, the Anishnabe language, and more than half of the members of the community are under 25 years old. There are 2 schools, primary and secondary, which transmit the Anishinabe language and culture through their educational program. In addition to hunting, forestry and construction, wild rice farming is an integral part of the community’s economic activity.

Born in Val-d’Or on February 19, 1981, Érik Papatie finally settled in the community of Lac-Simon after many trips back and forth between his community and his birthplace. He is dynamic, passionate about film and very involved, which makes him a serious and professional director. His unbridled creativity is the driving force behind his approach, which gives his films a unique genre and aesthetic.

Anthony Oginany and Rose-Aimée Papatie were born on June 13, 1998 and October 8, 2001 respectively. They met a little over a year ago and have been inseparable ever since. During a pow wow in 2017, they discovered, unified and harmonized their passion for traditional singing. It was Anthony’s mother who encouraged them to come to the Wapikoni Mobile studio to live a first film experience that allowed her to immortalize several traditional songs.

According to Indigenous Tourism Quebec, officially established and recognized in 1962, the Algonquin Anishnabe community of Lac Simon is located approximately 32 kilometers from Val-d’Or in Abitibi. The young community is composed of 2100 inhabitants.

Click HERE to find out more about the members of the Algonquin Nation.