Award-Winning Band Denounces Charest Government Project

CerAmony Rejects Plan Nord, Releases New Album

NewsYann Geoffroy — Published November 14, 2011

The Juno Award-winning musical duo CerAmony launched their eponymous first album on Nov. 10 at the Théâtre Plaza in Montreal.

They also took the opportunity to voice their dissatisfaction with Plan Nord, the Charest government’s development project for Northern Quebec.

CerAmony’s sound is as broad as the territory from which the artists hail, which encompasses reggae, hip-hop, anthem rock and even country. They also incorporate stylistic elements of traditional Cree ceremony such as native chanting and drumming.

Members Matthew Isehoff and Pakesso Mukash consider themselves to be a true voice of James Bay Cree; a voice they use to take issue with Plan Nord.

They are concerned with the estimated 120,000 people the plan will bring to the territory over the next 6 years, and how this will affect their way of life.

“We asked the Cree Nation Youth Council how many want this. One hand went up. […] How many don’t want this or are unsure? All the other hands went up with absolute certainty,” said Mukash.

“Any Canadian can have education and health care, but we have to give up land and rivers to have the same rights, at a lesser level,” said Isehoff.

“[The Olympic organizers] did a good job of showing us at the Olympics, using our logos and Inukshuk, but they didn’t give us anything for them. They tipped their hats to us but they didn’t invite us to eat at the same table.”

“Our generation is the one with the educated questions, but nobody is listening,” Mukash added.