Mike Paul Kuekuatsheu is an Ilnu songwriter born on the shores of Lake Pekuakami in Mashteuiatsh. Winner of 2 awards at the Indigenous Superstar Awards 2022, in the categories of best rock album and best album in Indigenous language with his new album Ashuapmushuan. Nominated for the world's largest Aboriginal music gala NAMA 2022 as well as the prestigious Canadian Folk Music Awards and the Indigenous Music Awards in 2019. He is one of the pioneers of his community in the music business where he has been working for 28 years. The friendly Wolverine (Kuekuatsheu) is back in force with his 3rd album "Ashuapmushuan" (where we watch for moose). Guided by the river and the spirit of the winds, his voice resounds in the universe for the protection of the living on assi (earth) and for the pride of the thousand-year-old culture of his Ilnu people of hunter-gatherers. The recipient of the 2019 CALQ Impulsion grant offers us a magnificent and innovative folk-rock album in Ilnu, French and English that takes us to the heart of Nutshimit (inland) and the myths and legends of the First Peoples. This is one of the best Indigenous folk and rock records of 2022, and Ilnu singer-songwriter Mike Paul deserves every accolade for the wonder that is his third solo album, Ashuapmushuan. Mike spent 2 years working on it, including rigorous research and consultations with elders from his community of Mashteuiatsh, including poet Josephine Bacon who translated the song Athikuapui (caribou broth) which revives Shash Nehlueun, an Ilnu dialect from the nearly extinct territory of Mike Paul's tribe the Pekuakamiulnuatsh. Featuring the vocal harmonies of Wendat artist Andrée Lévesque Sioui and Valerie Hamelin of the Mi'gmaw people of Gespeg who also performs the Mi'gmaw friendship song. His song Ashuapmushuan reached number 6 on the national Indigenous Music Countdown on Sirius, which broadcasts a top 40 Indigenous song list, and continues to receive radio airplay in Quebec, the United States and Europe. Mike has performed numerous concerts in Brittany, France, USA, Canada, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario. He has participated in numerous live television shows, including TAM 1 and 3, Makusham, Radio Canada's Sortir, la petite séduction, INDIGENOUS DAY LIVE 2018 in Ottawa. He composes soundtracks for television shows including Mishkuenita on APTN. Twice a finalist as a songwriter for the Target Stage Award. Mike is also a storyteller and lecturer on First Peoples culture.
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