Kashtin
Encyclopedia
Kashtin were a Canadian
folk rock
duo in the 1980s and 1990s, one of the most commercially successful and famous musical groups in First Nations
history.
The band was formed in 1984 by Claude McKenzie
and Florent Vollant
, two Innu
from the Maliotenam reserve in northern Quebec
. The name Kashtin means "tornado" in the Innu-aimun
language, but was also chosen as a pun
on the English language
phrase "cashed in", in response to friends who alleged that the band was selling out
.
and soon in English Canada
as well, eventually being certified double platinum. The singles "E Uassiuian" and "Tshinanu" were popular hits for the band.
In 1990, the band toured Europe and made commercial breakthroughs there, most notably becoming Top 10 stars in France
.
In 1991, the band released their second album, Innu. That album spawned the band's biggest Canadian hit single, "Ishkuess".
For their third album, 1994's Akua Tuta, Kashtin signed with Columbia Records
. Robbie Robertson
included the title track from that album on his album Music for The Native Americans
. Their songs also appeared on the soundtracks to the film Dance Me Outside
and the television shows Northern Exposure
and Due South
.
Following Akua Tuta, McKenzie and Vollant each began recording as solo artists. They have not released another album as Kashtin, although they have continued to perform occasional live shows together. They also collaborated with hip hop musician Samian
on his 2010 remake of "Tshinanu".
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
duo in the 1980s and 1990s, one of the most commercially successful and famous musical groups in First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
history.
The band was formed in 1984 by Claude McKenzie
Claude McKenzie
Claude McKenzie is a Canadian singer-songwriter. An Innu from Maliotenam, he was half of the popular folk music duo Kashtin, the most commercially successful musical group in First Nations history....
and Florent Vollant
Florent Vollant
Florent Vollant is a Canadian singer-songwriter. An Innu from Maliotenam, Quebec, he was half of the popular folk music duo Kashtin, one of the most important musical groups in First Nations history....
, two Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
from the Maliotenam reserve in northern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The name Kashtin means "tornado" in the Innu-aimun
Innu-aimun
Innu-aimun or Montagnais is an Algonquian language spoken by over 11,000 people, called the Innu, in Labrador and Quebec in Eastern Canada...
language, but was also chosen as a pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
on the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
phrase "cashed in", in response to friends who alleged that the band was selling out
Selling out
"Selling out" is the compromising of integrity, morality, or principles in exchange for money or "success" . It is commonly associated with attempts to tailor material to a mainstream audience...
.
Career
The duo quickly became popular regionally in Quebec, and in 1988 they were featured in a documentary on the Innu for a Quebec television station. They were soon brought to Montreal to record, and released their self-titled debut album in 1989. Although that album was recorded in their native Innu-aimun language, spoken by just 12,000 people in the world, the album quickly became a major hit in Quebec, GreenlandGreenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and soon in English Canada
English Canada
English Canada is a term used to describe one of the following:# English-speaking Canadians, as opposed to French-speaking Canadians. It is employed when comparing English- and French-language literature, media, or art...
as well, eventually being certified double platinum. The singles "E Uassiuian" and "Tshinanu" were popular hits for the band.
In 1990, the band toured Europe and made commercial breakthroughs there, most notably becoming Top 10 stars in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In 1991, the band released their second album, Innu. That album spawned the band's biggest Canadian hit single, "Ishkuess".
For their third album, 1994's Akua Tuta, Kashtin signed with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
included the title track from that album on his album Music for The Native Americans
Music for The Native Americans
Music for The Native Americans is a 1994 album by Robbie Robertson, compiling music written by Robertson and other colleagues for the television documentary film The Native Americans....
. Their songs also appeared on the soundtracks to the film Dance Me Outside
Dance Me Outside
Dance Me Outside is a 1995 drama film directed and co-written by Bruce McDonald. It was based on a book by W.P. Kinsella,-Plot:Set on the Kidabanesee reserve in Northern Ontario. Silas Crow is a young man confused about his direction in life; he wants to take an automobile mechanic's course in...
and the television shows Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure is an American television series that ran on CBS from 1990 to 1995, with a total of 110 episodes.-Overview:The series was given a pair of consecutive Peabody Awards: in 1991–92 for the show's "depict[ion] in a comedic and often poetic way, [of] the cultural clash between a...
and Due South
Due South
Due South is a Canadian crime drama series with elements of comedy. The series was created by Paul Haggis, produced by Alliance Communications, and stars Paul Gross, David Marciano, and latterly Callum Keith Rennie...
.
Following Akua Tuta, McKenzie and Vollant each began recording as solo artists. They have not released another album as Kashtin, although they have continued to perform occasional live shows together. They also collaborated with hip hop musician Samian
Samian (rapper)
Samuel Tremblay, better known by his stage name Samian , is a Canadian rapper who performs in both French and Algonquin....
on his 2010 remake of "Tshinanu".
Albums
- KashtinKashtin (album)Kashtin is the debut album by Canadian folk rock duo Kashtin, released in 1989. The album featured the hit singles "Tshinanu" and "E Uassiuian".-Track listing:...
(1989) - InnuInnu (album)Innu is the second album by Canadian folk rock band Kashtin, released in 1991. The album was certified platinum in Canada.It contains the band's biggest chart hit, "Ishkuess", as well as a cover of Willie Dunn's "Son of the Sun", the only song the band ever recorded in a language other than their...
(1991) - Akua TutaAkua TutaAkua Tuta is the third album by Canadian folk rock duo Kashtin, released in 1994.The title track was selected by Robbie Robertson for inclusion on his television soundtrack Music for The Native Americans, and was also used on Due South in the episode "Hawk and a Handsaw".Akua Tuta was the final...
(1994)