Moment Factory, the multimedia entertainment studio specialising in the conception and production of immersive environments, is celebrating the opening of the latest experience in its Lumina Night Walk Series, created in collaboration with the Huron-Wendat Nation Council for client Wendake Tourism.
Onhwa’ Lumina takes guests on an immersive journey in Wendake, Quebec. As they progress through seven zones, powered by Moment Factory’s technology and storytelling, they will experience the stories, symbols and rhythms of the Huron-Wendat.
Building bridges between cultures
In Wendat, “onhwa” means “now”, but can also be interpreted as a bridge between the past and the present. To create the new experience, Moment Factory worked closely with the Huron-Wendat community, enabling the members of the Huron-Wendat Nation to contribute their knowledge and thus creating a bridge for traditions across time and peoples.
The 50-minute experience covers a 1.2 km walk through the Saint-Rémy wooded area, featuring seven zones with lighting design, video projection, scenography and an original soundtrack. Drawing on rich creative traditions, it explores themes such as the cycle of life, the passing down of knowledge, and the relationship between all living things.
A close collaboration
Onhwa’ Lumina is the culmination of nearly two years of tight-knit work with the Huron-Wendat Nation Council and the Wendake Tourist Office to craft a respectful, poetic, and enchanting experience.
“Our ancestral values of respect for nature and balance between our economic activities and the community have motivated our unwavering support for this project of major importance for our tourism industry. This spotlight on part of our culture will showcase our Nation’s greatness,” says Rémy Vincent, Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation.
Around 100 Moment Factory team members worked on the project, alongside teams from the Wendake Tourism Office and the Wendat community who were involved throughout the process.
The aim of this latest Lumina Night Walk experience is to celebrate the richness of Wendat culture and heritage, providing an evocative and authentic narrative surrounding the history of the nation, as well as creating a sense of pride within the community.
“To inspire emotions and bring both people and peoples together – that is what the Onhwa’ Lumina night walk strives to do,” says Éric Fournier, partner and executive producer at Moment Factory. “We’re proud to promote the ancestral traditions and ways of life of the Huron-Wendat Nation while contributing to the vitality of the local economy.”
Moment Factory team has also collaborated with various Aboriginal communities on previous projects, ensuring that they authentically represent the uniqueness of these communities and their culture. Examples include Kamuy Lumina, where the firm worked with the Akan Lake Ainu community, and Illuminations: Nature/Human, for which Moment Factory collaborated with Canadian artist Sarah Fuller and the Lake Minnewanka community.
Onhwa’ Lumina is the 14th Lumina in Moment Factory’s night walk series, the 7th in Canada, and the 5th located in Quebec. It is expected to create 173 jobs in the area, and generate $11.4 million in overall economic spinoffs by attracting 100,000 visitors per year.
Earlier this year, Moment Factory also created a nighttime spectacular called Nightrise for the Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain. Recently, four experts from across Moment Factory’s multidisciplinary teams spoke to blooloop about the company’s mission, explaining what the motto ‘We do it in public‘ means to them.
