Mike Paul
Mike Paul is an Ilnu singer songwriter born in Mashteuiasth Nation located on the shores ofPekuakami Lake. Nominated at the 2020 Canadian Folk Music Award and the 2019 Indigenous Music Awards, the friendly Wolverine (Kuekatsheu) comes back with his 3rd album “Ashuapmushan” (where we watch the moose).
Inspired by the river and the spirit of the winds, his voice resonates in the universe for the protection of the living on assi (earth) and for the pride of the thousand-year-old hunter-gatherers culture of his Ilnu community. The 2019 recipient of the Implusion CALQ fellowship (award) offers us a magnificent album containing folk, rock and traditional sounds including text in Ilnu, French and English which takes you to the heart of Nutshimit (inland) and the myths and legends of the First Nations.
Mike's new album features Wendat artist Andrée Lévesque Sioui on vocal harmonies and Valerie Hamelin, a Mi’gmaw artist from Gespeg performing the Friendship song. One of his songs also called “Ashuapmushuan” is featured now on the Indigenous Music Countdown (IMC) top ten, which broadcasts the top 40 best Indigenous songs in the world. This radio show airs on a dozen North American radio stations including Sirius Indigeverse, Sirius XM and Sirius Canada. The song is also spinning on four other Europeans radio stations.
This project was made possible with the grateful help of the Canada Council for the Arts.