Our History
Wapikoni Awashish
In 2001, a creative wind blew over Wemotaci. Filmmaker Manon Barbeau began writing a fiction screenplay with fifteen young Atikamekw. Among them, Wapikoni Awashish, barely 20, is shining like a star in her community. Her head is brimming with projects. Her perseverance is an inspiration to many.
For twelve months, the group took part in the creation of the director’s film. In May 2002, the first version of the screenplay for La fin du mépris was finally completed. The project was ready to take off. However, the group’s creative momentum came to an abrupt halt.
On the bumpy road to La Tuque, Wapikoni is tragically killed by a lumber truck. The community is plunged into mourning, and work grinds to a standstill, leaving the filmmaker and her group in the shadow of the tragedy.
Wapikoni mobile
Manon Barbeau then imagined an ambitious project in memory of her young protégée. She dreamed of a traveling film and music recording studio for young First Peoples.
In 2003, Wapikoni mobile was created by the Atikamekw Nation Council, the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Youth Council (now the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Youth Network), with the support of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador and the collaboration of the National Film Board of Canada. This unique forum for expression, learning, exchange and promotion was officially launched in 2004 as part of the First Peoples’ Festival in Montreal.
Since then, the Wapikoni mobile has traveled to First Nation communities to offer workshops in the creation of short films and musical works.