Wapikoni Mobile and Manon Barbeau receive 2 prestigious awards today
The 50th Anniversary Medal of the Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie (MIRF)
is awarded to Wapikoni Mobile
And its co-founder, Manon Barbeau, receives the Chevalier medallion of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de la République française (Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic)
MONTREAL, Sept. 12, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - A true outreach tool for the voices of Indigenous youth, Wapikoni Mobile was honoured today with the 50th Anniversary Medal of the Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie (MIRF). A double honour since its co-founder, filmmaker Manon Barbeau's deep sensitivity and humanity were also recognized as she was awarded another prestigious title, that of Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) of the French Republic. These highest honours were presented at a ceremony in the presence of Maria Mourani, representative of the Government of Quebec in the Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO and Laurence Haguenauer, Consul General of France in Quebec.
MIRF's 50th Anniversary tribute to Wapikoni Mobile
Ms. Maria Mourani presented the 50th Anniversary Medal of the Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie (MIRF) to Ms. Manon Barbeau to "recognize Wapikoni Mobile's contribution to Québec's international reputation." It is Manon Barbeau's creative impetus that conceived Wapikoni Mobile's innovative approach and lead the charitable Indigenous organization to become an official UNESCO partner in 2017. It has offered creation and training workshops throughout Canada, but also in Bolivia, Peru, Panama, Chile, Colombia and more recently Turkey, Jordan and the Palestinian territories. In its 14 years of existence, thousands of participants have been introduced to cinema and to its power to influence social and societal transformations. Today, the Wapikoni collection includes over 1,000 short films and 750 musical creations. This is without a doubt an outstanding contribution to the world's cultural heritage. National and international festivals have already presented 163 awards and honours to emerging Indigenous filmmakers! As is eloquently demonstrated in Sonia Bonspille-Boileau's documentary Wapikoni mobile (Nish Media), available on TOU.TV.
MIRF's 50th Anniversary
As part of the celebrations marking its 50th anniversary, the Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie is presenting recognition awards ? MIRF 50th Anniversary medals ? to public figures who made key contributions to the advancement of Quebec's international relations. It is worth noting that over the course of the past year, the late Paul Gérin-Lajoie who created the Quebec Ministry of Education, and Yves Bigot, executive director of TV5 Monde, received the 50th MIRF medal.
Manon Barbeau named Chevalier by the L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de la République française (Order of the Arts and Letters of the French Republic)
Recipient of multiple awards and distinctions, Manon Barbeau has worked as a filmmaker for several organizations, including Télé-Québec and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). In 2004, she co-founded Wapikoni Mobile with the Council of the Atikamekw Nation and the First Nations Youth Council, with the support of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) and the NFB. That same year, she created Vidéo Paradiso for street kids. Named Ashoka Fellow in 2009, Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 2014 and a member of the Order of Canada, Ms. Barbeau is also a recipient of the Albert-Tessier Award, the highest cinema award in Quebec.
"I am deeply moved by these awards because they reward the hard work of everyone who has collaborated with me in giving a voice ? through cinema ? to Indigenous people in Canada and abroad. This is an honour I will share with them as I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their trust and dedication, "stated Manon Barbeau.
L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (The Order of the Arts and Letters)
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an honorary order awarded annually by the Minister of Culture of the French Republic based on recommendations received by the Prefect and Council of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres. Among Quebec personalities who have received the grade and medallion of Chevalier are director Denise Filiatrault and filmmaker Xavier Dolan.
Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie
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SOURCE Wapikoni mobile
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