Born in an Aboriginal community in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Samian is an artist with many strings to his bow. Whether it is photography, music or cinema, nothing stops him when it comes to promoting the beauty of his culture. In fact, he has started his own record label, Nikamo, which means "sing" in Algonquin.
"I decided to found my label because I was asked: "Where is your French song? I didn't want to go through that. I got zero grants. Even at the doors I knocked on, they gave me absolutely nothing. I paid for everything out of my own pocket. I hired people to mix and master. The beatmakers that I hired are from all over the world: Germany, Costa Rica, Nigeria, United States. I produced and directed everything from A to Z. I've been at it for 18 months.
Source : La Presse
In keeping with his fight for Aboriginal identity, the artist has also released a video in memory of the Kamloops residential school tragedy.
"We must not forget that we are talking about an unpunished genocide," Samian recalls. "It took that for people to say to themselves, in the collective imagination, 'It's true what you experienced'.
Source : La Presse
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