This project was born from a dream of Mr. Georges Savard, President and CEO of this NPO. He had a very strong desire to combine his two passions: nature and music.
His first actions were carried out in 2010 with Mr. Gilles Sioui on the banks of the Akiawenrahk (Saint-Charles) River in Wendake. As they are both members of this community, they started a wonderful musical project featuring the enchanting sounds of Kabir Kouba Falls accompanied by guitar sounds and soaring voices. Following this first experience, MusiqueNature was born in 2021 and its events have been on the rise ever since. The organization’s mission is to reconnect people with nature by producing and broadcasting outdoor musical events that allow them to rediscover their capacity for wonder before minimalist musical creations or masterful works. These shows are all performed by outstanding musicians and foster interaction with all the life
forms of nature. Such is the extra soul provided by the events of MusiqueNature.
The organization aims to be beneficial to both nature and human beings. According to Mr. Savard, “Human beings are part of nature, and we must find postures of humility through our presence on the territory.” The organization raises awareness about the protection of nature and offers opportunities for interesting insights into the consumption of natural energy.
The events are therefore all presented without any need for electricity. Everything is done using the least amount of resources in order to consume as little as possible. The number of participants is also minimized in order to protect the natural environment. It is about creating a living space and an experience. It is not the use of new technologies that sets them apart, in fact, quite the contrary; it is above all their “zero footprint” in relation to the environment.
Soon, a platform that floats on water will be set up to accommodate artists while preventing damage to the territories they visit with their events. Their goal is not to lecture anyone, but rather to have a positive impact and lead by example to inspire others to follow suit.
The CEO explained to us that the objective is to create encounters between human beings and nature, while prioritizing Indigenous artists (without setting aside non-Indigenous artists). The board of directors is mostly made up of Indigenous people, but a place is also reserved for a few non-Indigenous members. Mr. Savard believes that both groups need each other. They complement each other and share different resources and tools, which he believes has a positive impact on the continuity of the actions to be carried out by the young organization.
He also mentions that “culture is born from nature”. Going back to our roots with instruments and sounds that come from the territory and discovering the wealth that was most likely enjoyed by our ancestors. They likely experienced enchanting musical moments, with the wind blowing, the rumblings of Mother Earth, the lightning illuminating the starry sky, and the sound of water trickling in a stream echoing through a silent forest, freshly watered by a violent storm. The musicians who take part in MusiqueNature events show great humility by accepting that wildlife and the elements of the Earth such as wind or thunder can intervene in their creations as they perform.
Reconnecting with Nature is good for both you and the planet
These musical events include a sound walk led by a specialist in sound ecology which raises awareness among participants that humans are part of a WHOLE and that they do not dominate nature and never will. They also aim to demonstrate that there are many possibilities when it comes to accessing natural environments for musical events. Mr. Savard wants to make a connection between music and nature while contributing to the development of strong ties and lasting interactions and considering music as an emotional means to connect with nature. MusiqueNature events highlight in a non-destructive way natural places that are preserved with a concern for zero waste footprint and respect.
Winner of the 2nd edition of the Nikanewin Bursaries
Last April, MusiqueNature won one of the ten Nikanewin Bursaries (worth $2,500 each) that are awarded by the FNQLEDC. This bursary also allows MusiqueNature to benefit from the support of FNQLEDC entrepreneurship advisors during the various stages of development of their projects (e.g., business plans, financial forecasts, funding searches, etc.).
Projects and activities in development
MusiqueNature aims to develop a web community to ensure that artists are well compensated. It also wishes to produce a professional video recording of each musical event for subsequent broadcasting. Several collaborative endeavours with other organizations (private companies, institutions, NPOs) as well as special events in the great outdoors are under development.
In closing, if you are a musician, singer or dancer and you are interested in sharing your art in a natural environment, you are encouraged to contact Mr. Savard. The organization also needs volunteers who are specialized in communications, writing and various online aspects. If you think you can volunteer a little time to enrich their experiences as well as your own, you can contact Mr. Savard at mn.georges@icloud.com or visit www.musiquenature.org.
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