The Algonquin have no songs.
It may sound strange, but in The Invisible Nation, a movie about the Algonquin people in Quebec, the directing duo of Richard Desjardins and Robert Monderie used country western songs as the soundtrack for their film.
While there have been some efforts to revive the music in recent years, there is almost no record of their songs. Desjardins said country western has replaced the Algonquin’s traditional forms of music at wedding ceremonies and other rites of passage.
Desjardins said while there have been some efforts to reclaim the songs, they were lost, along with the traditional healers of the communities.
The Invisible Nation explores how this once great nation declined into 10 poor communities riddled with human rights abuses.
However, on the day of the film’s Ottawa screening, viewers were talking about an imminent loss.
That same day, the Globe and Mail published leaked government documents detailing a plan to reform the band counsel system.
The government’s proposal is to make the process uniform across all native groups in Canada.
Normally, each community decides their election process based on their customs and traditions.
In the film, Desjardins explains the counsels’ role.
“Very often band counsels consist of family clans that constantly lock horns with chiefs who control their community. This control provides access to the only existing jobs, and those related to managing them.
Everyone else is on welfare,” he narrated.
Jacob Wawatie, a resident of the Kokomville community, was featured in the documentary.
He says while he welcomes reform, change should come from the people.
“It’s the people that have to decide. but it takes the whole community, it takes the whole nation. It takes the whole North America really to decide. Is the chief supposed to lead? Or is he supposed to take the lead from his people?” he asked. “As of now, you see a lot of chiefs are making decisions for their people, which their people are not ready for. So therefore, the peoples gotta speak up.”
Government officials refuse to comment. In the Globe article an official said it is against policy to discuss leaked documents.