MAMA8i NIKAMO in Pikogan: a festival celebrating Indigenous music and culture
May 14, 2026
Want to experience a festival that will thrill both your heart and your ears? From June 11 to 13, 2026, head to Pikogan, where the MAMA8I NIKAMO festival invites you to celebrate Indigenous music and culture in a welcoming and festive atmosphere.
For three days, the Anicinabe community invites you to discover a vibrant music lineup that showcases Indigenous artists and performers from various nations, all in a warm and festive atmosphere.
With evening shows and a Pow Wow during the day, this is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the richness of Indigenous cultures while enjoying a festival that’s accessible and open to everyone.
And as the name so aptly puts it: MAMA8I NIKAMO, which means “let’s sing together.”
How do you pronounce that?
The “8” in the word MAMA8I is pronounced “w.” The festival’s name is therefore pronounced MAMA-WI NIKAMO.
3 days of music and cultural encounters
The festival takes place just a short walk from the Pikogan Pow Wow site, offering a rich cultural experience: traditions, dance, music, and cultural encounters.
During the day, let yourself be swept up in the atmosphere of the Pow Wow, with its drums, colorful regalia, and unifying energy.
Come evening, the festival stage comes alive with a diverse musical lineup blending rap, folk, electronic, reggae, and pop.
In short, it’s an event where you come as much to listen to music as to discover a vibrant culture.
A rich and diverse musical lineup
The festival features a stage open to various styles and artists from different countries. One thing is certain: there’s a good chance you’ll discover your next favorite artist.
Among the artists you might see on stage:
Shauit
, an Innu artist who blends folk, roots, and reggae into a festive and socially conscious sound.
Laura Niquay
An Atikamekw singer-songwriter with a powerful voice, known for her folk-grunge sound.
K.Maro
A well-known figure on the Quebec pop and hip-hop scene, he brings a unifying energy to the lineup.
Classic Roots
An Indigenous DJ, music producer, and performer of Ojibwe and Blackfoot descent.
Natasha Fisher
A singer-songwriter with a powerful voice who navigates between pop and folk with great sensitivity.
Paul Lemieux
A folk-rock singer-songwriter with authentic songs inspired by the land.
Pako
Singer-songwriter from the Atikamekw community of Manawan. With a solid and masterful folk-rock style.
FDA (Proud to Be Indigenous)
An Atikamekw rap group composed of seven members from the communities of Wemotaci, Manawan, and Opitciwan. FDA blends rap, hip-hop, reggaeton, and urban sounds.
An accessible and welcoming festival
The festival grounds are designed to welcome everyone in a friendly atmosphere.
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accessible to people with limited mobility
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space for those who wish to bring their own chairs
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close to the Pow Wow site
Everything is designed so you can just sit back and enjoy the music.
Just so you know
MAMA8I NIKAMO is an alcohol- and drug-free festival, promoting a healthy, respectful, and inclusive atmosphere.
A festival born out of a desire to share
The MAMA8I NIKAMO festival was launched by the Pikogan community to mark the 10th anniversary of its Pow Wow in 2025.
Rather than simply adding more activities, Pikogan’s culture, recreation, and sports team decided to create a full-fledged music festival.
With the collaboration of the Théâtre des Eskers in Amos and numerous Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners, the event has become a collective project that celebrates music and intercultural encounters.
Even the festival’s visual identity reflects this idea of coming together: the turtle, an important symbol in many Indigenous traditions, represents the Earth and the world carried on its back.
An event poised to grow
MAMA8I NIKAMO is still in its infancy, but the event already has ambitions to become a major music festival in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Each edition aims to promote Indigenous music, foster cultural exchange, and offer the public a festive and welcoming experience.
And if you ever want to say, “I was there at the beginning,” now is the perfect time to go.