Ashuanipi

6:07 min. - Ashuanipi is a very big lake with many islands. There is a cemetery on one of them. We’ll go and salute the Innu who are buried there.

Transcription

Zacharie Bellefleur - I spent many days with François Pilot. This man, an older friend, was very knowledgeable. He was one of those Innu who understands that a hunter talks to his prey. He understood the language of the bush. He drove poles into the place where the waters parted. He knew the paths nomadic families have always used.
I wanted him to teach me. He didn't say yes, he didn't say no. There was laughter, lakes, burnt land, ever-more challenging rapids, familiar whirlpools. There were silences. He told the story of the path. I had to enter into the Earth's body. Walk on its wrinkles, slide into its veins.
I decided to make myself a canoe. François was happy. I had found the right way. I had covered long distances in my own mind, but I was actually cutting the trees I'd chosen for my first canoe. Two moons to make it, with a single tool. You have time to... to reflect.
Lake Ashuanipi is big. So is the wind. Ashuanipi. The place where we wait. To the West, there's a path that goes all the way to Caniapiscau. To the North the path leads to the tundra and the large caribou herds. To the East, another road leads to Tshishe-shastshit. Ashuanipi. Place where we wait for a favourable wind.
Music - Philippe Mckenzie

2 Comments

Scott N 9 years, 11 months ago

Bonjour, Danielle. I visited the cemetery at Ashuanipi in 2006, when i was conducting an archaeological survey of the region. I have a few pictures I could share with you if you are interested. Please feel free to send me an email, my address is scott.neilsen@mun.ca

Danielle descent 10 years, 6 months ago

Je commence une recherche sur le cimetière d'Ashuanipi.
Avez-vous d'autres images que celles-ci ?
Des suggestions de références.
Merci
Danielle D.

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