This graduate course will focus on the main issues related to Indigenous cultural productions made in French in Canada. Working from the idea of minority community, a theoretical framework from the Anglo-Canadian Indigenous Studies and Maurizio Gatti's seminal work, this course aims to answer various questions; Who is an Indigenous artist? What are the criteria for Indianness? What is the importance of language, place of residence, physical appearance, social engagement or so-called Indigenous themes? From the 1970s up to the present day, we will address the transformations in Indigenous cultural productions, more specifically the ones about language, themes, genres and aesthetics. Theoretical texts and the body of work will be studied in their context and special attention will be given to the differences among the Aboriginal nations at stake, too often seen as a homogeneous block. The course will take the form of a mini-conference; each student (and the instructor) will have a specific role during every class (presentation of a theoretical text or an artistic work, respondent for a colleague, etc.).
Students from other graduate programs may submit assignments in English with approval of the instructor.