The Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, in partnership with the UNESCO Chair on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and Obvia, is organizing a third Midi de la culture as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted in 2005. The event will take place on April 3, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM.
The third Midi de la culture, titled “Indigenous Perspectives on the UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions”, will feature Sipi Flamand, Chief of the Atikamekw Council of Manawan and language portfolio holder at the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, Sarah Cleary, Director of the Regional Committee on First Nations Languages (RCFNL), Nelly Jourdain, Executive Director of Makusham Musique, and Geneviève Motard, Full Professor at the Faculty of Law at Université Laval and Director of the Interuniversity Center for Indigenous Studies and Research (CIÉRA). The event will be moderated by Véronique Guèvremont, Professor at the Faculty of Law and the Graduate School of International Studies at Université Laval, and holder of the UNESCO Chair on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
This panel will delve into the deep connection between language and culture, emphasizing the vital role of Indigenous languages in preserving and passing down cultural identities. It will also highlight the Declaration on First Nations Languages Rights and offer contemporary Indigenous perspectives on the 2005 UNESCO Convention. Additionally, the discussion will showcase how musical expression plays a key role in revitalizing and safeguarding Indigenous languages in Quebec, with insights into Makusham Musique’s initiatives. Through personal stories and real-world experiences, this conversation will celebrate the richness of Indigenous cultures and explore how the Convention can be a powerful tool for their protection and promotion.
Date: April 3, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (EST)
Format: Online, via Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Host:
- Véronique Guèvremont, Professor at the Faculty of Law and the Graduate School of International Studies at Université Laval, and holder of the UNESCO Chair on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
Speakers:
- Sipi Flamand is the Chief of the Atikamekw Council of Manawan and the lead representative on ancestral languages at the Miaskom Chiefs’ Table, which means “where two rivers meet.” Originally from the Atikamekw Nehirowisiw community of Manawan, he holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Université Laval and currently serves as Chief while pursuing a master’s degree in Indigenous governance at the School of Indigenous Studies at Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT). His research focuses on Indigenous political philosophy, governance, and self-determination within the Atikamekw Nehirowisiw Nation. Previously, he was a spokesperson for the First Nations Youth Network of Quebec-Labrador and has long been an advocate for Indigenous rights and ancestral territories. Deeply committed to community and social engagement, he is guided by traditional Indigenous values and principles that emphasize cultural resurgence and reclaiming identity through governance.
- Sarah Cleary is the Director of the Regional Committee on First Nations Languages, as well as an Ilnu artist and traditionalist from the community of Mashteuiatsh. She is dedicated to revitalizing First Nations knowledge and traditions. As head of the Regional Committee on First Nations Languages, she works to mobilize and inform the 43 communities across Quebec and Labrador on language preservation and revitalization efforts.
- Nelly Jourdain, from the Innu community of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, is a passionate advocate for the preservation and promotion of First Nations culture. With a degree in business administration from Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), she has spent 14 years serving her community in various roles, including finance, human resources, and education. As Deputy Director of Language and Culture at the Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam Band Council, she has developed strong leadership and management expertise.
- Geneviève Motard has been a professor at the Faculty of Law at Université Laval since 2009 and has served as Director of the Interuniversity Center for Indigenous Studies and Research (CIÉRA) since 2020. Her research focuses on the political and territorial rights of Indigenous peoples and the interactions between Indigenous and state legal systems. In collaboration with Geneviève Nootens, she co-authored the 2022 book Souverainetés et autodéterminations autochtones: Tïayoriho’ten’.
Simultaneous interpretation will be available.