Quebec, Canada — During the summer solstice, a group of young Innu, Huron-Wendat, and Saguenay participants come together to travel the historic Jesuit Trail (the Innu-Montagnais Master Trail), a 310‑km ancestral water‑and‑land route linking Lac Saint‑Jean to Quebec City. Some walk in the footsteps of their ancestors, while others seek a deeper connection with nature or a personal challenge. Over the course of a 21‑day journey, they learn to understand one another, confront their own preconceptions, and engage with the realities of the land. From laughter to silence, heartfelt testimonies to moments of introspection, from traditional rigodon to bannock shared around the fire, each day becomes an opportunity to build relationships and discover new ways of living together.
Broadcast on TV5 UNIS and featured in several international festivals — including the National Geographic All Roads Film Festival — Encounters has been praised for its sensitivity, its authentic portrayal of relationships between Indigenous and non‑Indigenous youth, and its powerful depiction of intercultural connection across the Quebec territory.
Born from an initiative led by Nancy Bolduc, then director of Jacques‑Cartier National Park, the Rencontre Project brought together several youth‑focused partners from across the Nitassinan territory. The expedition, organized in collaboration with INAQ, a cooperative specializing in educational and therapeutic outdoor adventures, followed the historic Jesuit Trail, with support from the band councils of Wendake (Huron‑Wendat Nation) and Mashteuiatsh (Innu Nation), as well as numerous dedicated volunteers working closely with local youth.
Over the course of the journey, the project evolved into a profound human experience, impacting not only the young Indigenous and non‑Indigenous participants, but also the mentors, guides, and filmmakers who accompanied them. This formative adventure left a lasting impression on everyone involved and ultimately inspired a documentary that remains, to this day, a key reference on intercultural encounters, knowledge transmission, and Indigenous–non‑Indigenous relations in Quebec.
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Encounters immerses us in a powerful journey where young Innu, Huron‑Wendat, and non‑Indigenous Quebecers travel 310 km along the ancestral Jesuit Trail. The documentary explores the deep symbolism of the land, questions of identity, and the evolving relationships between Indigenous and non‑Indigenous peoples in Quebec.