Kashtin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kashtin
Innu singer-songwriter Florent Vollant performing at the Botanic Garden in Montreal in October 2006
Background information
Origin	Maliotenam, Quebec, Canada
Genres	folk rock
Years active	1984 (1984)–1996 (1996)
Members	Claude McKenzie Florent Vollant

Kashtin was a Canadian folk rock music duo. They were very popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Many people consider them one of the most famous and successful First Nations music groups ever.

Kashtin's Musical Journey

How Kashtin Started

The band Kashtin began in 1984. It was formed by two Innu musicians, Claude McKenzie and Florent Vollant. They came from the Maliotenam reserve in Quebec, near the Saint Lawrence River.

The name Kashtin means "tornado" in the Innu-aimun language. But it was also a clever wordplay on "cashed in". This was a fun way to respond to friends. Their friends joked that they were "selling out" by trying to become famous outside their community.

At first, they played cover songs by famous bands. These included Pink Floyd, U2, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and The Beatles. They performed these songs in Innu communities. Later, they started writing their own music.

Their Unique Sound

Kashtin's music was mostly folk rock. This style often uses acoustic guitars and tells stories. But they added a special touch. They used traditional Innu makushan drums. This gave their music a unique sound.

Around the time the band started, Vollant and McKenzie also helped create Innu Nikamu. This is a music festival that celebrates Indigenous music.

Becoming Famous

In 1988, Kashtin was featured in a TV show about the Innu people. This helped them become more known in Quebec. Soon, they were invited to Montreal to record music.

Their first album, also called Kashtin, came out in 1989. It was sung entirely in Innu-aimun. This language is spoken by only about 12,000 people. Even so, the album became a huge hit in Quebec and Greenland. It also became popular in English Canada.

The album sold over 200,000 copies, earning a "double platinum" award. It also won the Prix Félix for Best Debut Album. Their songs "E Uassiuian" and "Tshinanu" were especially popular.

Touring and New Albums

In 1990, Kashtin toured Europe. They became very successful there, especially in France. They even became a Top 10 band in France after opening for Louis Chedid.

In 1991, they went on their first full tour across Canada. Later that year, they released their second album, Innu. This album had their biggest Canadian hit, "Ishkuess". It also included a cover of "Son of the Sun" by Willie Dunn. This was the only song they ever recorded in English.

The Innu album was nominated for two Juno Awards in 1992. These were for Best World Beat Recording and Best Roots and Traditional Album.

In 1992, they appeared on the CBC Television show Ear to the Ground. They also performed as the main act in a televised concert called Indian Time II: Fly With Eagles.

Later Years and Solo Work

For their third album, Akua Tuta (1994), Kashtin signed with Columbia Records. A famous musician, Robbie Robertson, included the song "Akua Tuta" on his album Music for The Native Americans.

Kashtin's songs also appeared in movies and TV shows. These included the film Dance Me Outside and the TV shows Northern Exposure and Due South. The Akua Tuta album was nominated for a Juno Award in 1995. This nomination was for Best Aboriginal Recording.

After Akua Tuta, Florent Vollant decided to take a break from music. Claude McKenzie then released his own solo album, Innu Town, in 1996. Vollant released his solo album, Nipaiamianan, in 1999.

Kashtin has not released another album together since then. However, they still perform live shows sometimes. In 2010, they worked with hip hop artist Samian. They helped him remake their song "Tshinanu".

Kashtin's Albums

• Kashtin (1989)
• Innu (1991)
• Akua Tuta (1994)