40 Indigenous voices take Quebec City: the First Nations Book Fair opens on November 19

The official visual of the 15th First Nations Book Fair. © Kwahiatonhk!

“1 week to go!” — the countdown is on

The message landed on November 12 on the Book Fair's official accounts (@slpnqc), simple and excited: “1 week to go!” In seven days, on Thursday, November 19, the 15th First Nations Book Fair opens — the gathering Quebec City awaits every fall to hear Indigenous voices from here and elsewhere.

Behind the Book Fair, a name that rings like a welcome: Kwahiatonhk! — “we write”, in Wendat. The organisation, based in Wendake and entirely devoted to developing and promoting Indigenous literatures, has carried the Book Fair since its very first edition in 2011. Fifteen editions on, the fact still holds: it is the only event of its kind in Canada, and the largest gathering of Indigenous authors in Quebec.

Close to 40 voices, three venues, one city

Close to 40 Indigenous authors and artists are expected over four days, across three neighbouring venues in the heart of Quebec City. At the Maison de la littérature, the main stage hosts talks and panels, free and open to all. Right across the street, the Morrin Centre becomes the beating heart of the Fair: its Book Fair Space hosts book sales and signing sessions — and, new this year, its magnificent private library welcomes short, intimate readings, three times a day from Friday to Sunday. Méduse's Salle Multi hosts the three big evening shows.

The Fair also spills into Quebec City's libraries — family workshops, a culinary talk, a master class in animation — and into Café La Maison Smith, for croissants and conversation with the authors. And just minutes away, Wendake: the Huron-Wendat nation where Kwahiatonhk! makes its home, and from which the Book Fair shines.

Love, and great women

The 2026 edition has a thread running through it, written all over its official visual: hearts, everywhere. The theme of love runs through the programme, and the great women of the First Nations hold the place of honour. The Book Fair's executive director, Louis-Karl Picard-Sioui, puts it this way in the official release:

“This year, we are lucky to welcome several great women of the First Nations whose actions and work have marked our society.”

Among them: Magali Picard, Elizabeth Penashue, Anne-Marie Ambroise, Marie-Michèle Sioui and Natasha Kanapé Fontaine. And on Thursday already, the Maison de la littérature devotes a full day to the symposium “Reading, writing, thinking with the heart: love across Indigenous literatures” — relationships, (dis)love, translation, care: the heart, in all its literary states.

Natasha Kanapé Fontaine — among the great women in the spotlight in 2026 — on the Book Fair stage at the 2021 edition. © Kwahiatonhk!

Three evenings at the Salle Multi

On Thursday night, the opening evening sets the tone: Tanite etain?, an exclusive reading by Michel Jean, who will read his text Où es-tu? — from the collective collection Amun, celebrating its tenth anniversary — accompanied by musicians Marc Vallée and Christian Paré Bastien, with poetry readings by Aïcha Bastien N'Diaye, Jessica Gagnon and Andrée Levesque Sioui to open the night.

On Friday, make way for Yonnonhwe', the Book Fair's annual literary happening, placed this year under the sign of love: literature, dance and music, with Émilie Monnet, Shayne Michael and Soleil Launière, among others. On Saturday, the traditional Kwahiatonhk! Literary Cabaret closes the series: Jocelyn Sioui, Waubgeshig Rice and Uashteskun, among others, bring their works to life, and Robert-Falcon Ouellette shares traditional Cree songs.

And the Book Fair welcomes a distinguished guest from overseas: Mats Jonsson, the Swedish author of Sami origin, in town from November 18 at the Bibliothèque Félix-Leclerc for the opening of the exhibition Quand nous étions des Samis (When We Were Sami), drawn from his graphic novel. The First Nations of Quebec reaching out to the Sami of Sweden: the Book Fair is made of encounters like these, too.

Moïse 1er, the Festival Explorer / Montréal - Québec - Toronto - Canada