Kashtin
| Company type | Music duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Claude McKenzie, Florent Vollant |
| Headquarters | Canada |
| Products | Folk rock music albums |
Kashtin was a folk rock duo from Canada, established in 1984 by Innu artists Claude McKenzie and Florent Vollant, who hailed from the Maliotenam reserve in Quebec. The word Kashtin translates to "tornado" in the Innu-aimun language and cleverly plays on the phrase "cashed in," addressing accusations from critics who claimed they compromised their integrity for mainstream success. Starting out as a cover group performing songs by bands such as Pink Floyd and U2, they eventually shifted to composing original works that fused popular folk rock with traditional Innu makushan drum rhythms. Additionally, Vollant and McKenzie contributed to founding the Innu Nikamu festival, which honors Indigenous musical traditions.
Their participation in a 1988 documentary about the Innu community significantly increased their visibility, leading to a contract with producer Guy Trépanier and the release of their debut album, Kashtin, in 1989. Despite featuring lyrics entirely in Innu-aimun—a language spoken by roughly 12,000 individuals—the album achieved notable commercial success across Quebec, Greenland, and English-speaking regions of Canada. It attained double platinum certification and earned the Prix Félix for Best Debut Album. Popular tracks included "E Uassiuian" and "Tshinanu."
In 1990, Kashtin embarked on a European tour, successfully entering the French market where they ranked among the Top 10 acts opening for Louis Chedid. During the same year, their music experienced temporary radio bans amid the Oka crisis but was reinstated following public opposition. Their subsequent album, Innu, released in 1991, was supported by a nationwide Canadian tour and featured their most successful Canadian single, "Ishkuess," as well as an uncommon English-language rendition of Willie Dunn’s "Son of the Sun." This album garnered Juno Award nominations for Best World Beat Recording and Best Roots and Traditional Album.
Kashtin appeared on CBC's Ear to the Ground program in 1992 and headlined the event Indian Time II: Fly With Eagles. After McKenzie’s 1993 arrest for impaired driving and subsequent incarceration in 1994, the duo issued their third album, Akua Tuta, through Columbia Records. The title song was included on Robbie Robertson’s compilation Music for The Native Americans, while other tracks featured on soundtracks for productions such as Dance Me Outside, Northern Exposure, and Due South. This release also received a Juno nomination for Best Aboriginal Recording.
Following Akua Tuta, Vollant took a break from music while McKenzie debuted his solo career with Innu Town in 1996; Vollant later returned with his solo effort Nipaiamianan in 1999. Although Kashtin has not produced additional albums since then, they have occasionally reunited for live concerts and collaborated with hip hop artist Samian on a 2010 remake of "Tshinanu."