The 36th International First Peoples Festival opens Tuesday in Montreal, bringing together Indigenous arts, cultures and stories through film, music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature and performance.
This year’s festival is guided by Enukunnu, the Spider Innu, an allegorical figure representing dreams, creativity and reconciliation.
Enukunnu embodies the power of imagination and the ability to weave new possibilities through art and storytelling.
The figure’s arrival takes place on land with deep historical significance: Montreal was the site of the 1701 Great Peace of Montreal, where peoples of the Americas gathered and signed a historic peace treaty.
Opening night features world premiere of Nitassinan
The festival’s opening night features the world premiere of “Nitassinan,” a feature-length documentary co-directed by Joséphine Bacon and Kim O’Bomsawin.
The film is a tribute to the Innu people, their ancestral territory and their resilience. It explores the enduring relationship between the Innu and Nitassinan, a territory that has shaped their language, history and identity.
The documentary is described as a message of love for the land that has accompanied the Innu people across generations.
Indigenous arts, cinema take over Montreal
A large tipi will stand at Place des Festivals as a gathering point for celebration and discovery, with drums, performances and artistic presentations contributing to the festival atmosphere.
Indigenous cinema remains a major part of the program, presenting works from across the world and offering audiences opportunities to discover stories connected to Indigenous experiences, landscapes and perspectives.
Through its programming, the festival continues to provide a space for reflection, cultural transmission and dialogue between peoples, languages and artistic traditions.
Festival closes with celebration of peace
FIPA 2026 concludes on Aug. 14 with the grand concert “Here Was Planted the Tree of Peace,” bringing together artists and audiences for the closing celebration.
Bacon will participate in both the opening and closing events, including the presentation of “Nitassinan” and the final concert.
The official poster for the 36th International First Peoples Festival. (Courtesy: International First Peoples Festival)
Add CityNews Montreal as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.
