Innu music facts for kids

The Innu are a group of First Nations people who live in parts of what is now Quebec and Labrador in Canada. They have a lively and strong culture, especially when it comes to their music. This music often includes dancing and uses instruments that make sounds by being hit, like drums.

The Innu People and Their Music

The Innu have kept their traditional music alive for many years. This music is often called folk music, which means it's music that comes from the everyday lives and traditions of a community. It's usually passed down from one generation to the next.

Traditional Innu Music

Innu traditional music often features percussion instruments. These are instruments you hit, shake, or scrape to make a sound. Drums are very important in Innu music. They help create rhythms for dances and songs.

Modern Innu Sounds

Over time, Innu music has also grown and changed. Modern Innu musicians sometimes mix traditional sounds with new styles and instruments. This helps their music reach more people and stay fresh.

Philip Mackenzie: A Music Pioneer

One important modern Innu musician is Philip Mackenzie. He is known for creating a special kind of music where a singer writes and performs their own songs. He sings in the Innu language, which is the language spoken by the Innu people. Philip Mackenzie first used only a guitar and a teueikan. A teueikan is a type of frame drum that has snares, which are strings or wires that vibrate and make a buzzing sound when the drum is played. After Philip Mackenzie, other musicians who followed his style started adding more instruments, including electronic and acoustic ones.

The Innu Nikamu Festival

The Innu Nikamu festival is a very important event for Innu music and other Native American music styles. The name "Innu Nikamu" means "The Innu Sings." This festival happens every year in Quebec, Canada. It's a place where many different Indigenous musicians come together to share their songs and culture.

Kashtin: A Famous Innu Band

A very famous Innu folk-rock band called Kashtin first became popular at the Innu Nikamu festival. Folk-rock music mixes traditional folk sounds with the louder, electric sounds of rock music. The festival's importance was even shown in a 2017 documentary film called Innu Nikamu: Resist and Sing. This film highlights how music can be a way to share stories and show strength.