Soleil Launière

Soleil Launière is a talented Innu writer, actress, performance artist, and musician hailing from Canada. As a member of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation in Mashteuiatsh, Quebec, she has made history as the first Indigenous Canadian artist to win the prestigious Francouvertes competition, which celebrates emerging musicians from Quebec.

Born to an Innu father and a québécoise mother, Soleil's artistic work often reflects her experiences as an Indigenous woman who can navigate between different cultural identities. In 2019, she founded Auen Productions, a company dedicated to producing theatrical and performance art that resonates with her heritage and personal narrative.

Her stage play, Akuteu, garnered significant acclaim, earning a nomination for the Governor General's Award for French-language drama at the 2023 Governor General's Awards. Additionally, it won the Indigenous Voices Award for French Poetry or Drama, along with accolades for Poetry/Drama and Discovery at the 2024 Salon du livre du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.

In 2023, Soleil released her album, Taueu, showcasing her musical versatility with songs performed in English, French, and Innu-aimun. Her remarkable achievements continued with Félix Award nominations for Indigenous Artist of the Year and Indigenous Language Album of the Year at the forty-sixth Félix Awards in 2024. That same year, she also appeared in the short film Katshinau (Les Mains sales).

Identifying as two-spirit, Soleil Launière's work and presence in the arts continue to inspire and pave the way for future generations of Indigenous artists.