Laura Niquay: Waska Matisiwin (Circle of Life)
Genres: Indie, Pop Rock, Folk, Grunge
Song: Moteskano
Album: Waska Matisiwin
Raised in a family of musicians, receiving her first guitar at age 11 Laura Niquay had no question that music was her passion. Her music is both shaped and inspired by her Atikamekw identity, specifically the connection to her native tongue. She explains how “I have nephews and nieces who live in the city, and who are slowly losing the use of our language, and this affects me a lot. It’s important for me to sing properly in our language.” All of her music is therefore sung in Atikamekw, with consultation from elders and techno-linguists. Beyond singing in her native language, much of the content of her music is inspired by her community. She writes of the struggles First Nation people face, but ultimately the resilience they show. The underlying message of all her songs is one of hope and perseverance.
Her musical talents have earned her numerous awards including the Félix for Indigenous Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, Indigenous Languages at the ADISQ Gala, of the Teweikan in the Folk category, Best Performance and Jury’s Favorite Award at the Teweikan Gala, and winner of the TD Indigenous Songwriter Award from the SOCAN Foundation.
Kape matce moteian Askik
Ni pikekiniskisin niki pisken
Mocak nikipe pisikon
Kirika nikawi
Nanikotin niki otamicin
Nama nkitci atwerimon
Tapwe mocak niki takocinin nete
Nikinako ketcikinako
Nikinako ketcikinako
Mocak eki pomteian
Tapwe ketin niki motan
Moteskano matisiwin
Ni pikekiniskisin
Nikinako ketcikinako
Nikinako ketcikinako
Mostekano, translated to The Paths of our Ancestors, is a song off of her 2021 album, Waska Matisiwin. The song invokes a sense of longing and nostalgia for something that has been lost, she writes: “the sky is cloudy, and I am feeling sad. I am looking for something that I cannot find.” Niquay demonstrates a yearning for connection to her past, expressed both through the lyrics and the tone in her voice. As the song progresses, Niquay shifts the tone, embracing the path forged by her ancestors. She uses the symbolism of moccasins and snowshoes to show the resilience of her community since she says “snowshoes stop us from sinking.” The concluding line, “Nikinako ketchikinako,” meaning “I hear your echo,” serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring presence of ancestors in the lives of the Atikamekw people. It suggests that their legacy continues to resonate and influence the present generation.
The video itself includes people across generations, in one particular clip there are 5 people wearing one white sheet. This seems to represent the interconnectedness of the Atikamekw people to their ancestors and to each other. The album itself is called the Circle of Life, which implies both loss but also an unbroken link between the past and present. Life is a circle and forgetting one’s ancestors results in a loss of self.
Niquay’s mesmerizing and unique voice, coupled with her emotional delivery, allows listeners to connect with the essence of the song even if they do not understand the native language. It highlights her talent as a musician to convey emotions and messages that transcend linguistic barriers.
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