Nordicity: writing, sharing and building a Francophone identity at Collège Nordique

As part of Francophonie Month, Collège Nordique hosted the launch of the Nordicity collection, produced in collaboration with Éditions Présence Francophone. The event brought together authors, community members and partners around a deeply human project: putting into words the realities, journeys and emotions that shape life in the North.

The event was organized at Collège Nordique by Édouard Debeugny, Project Manager, and Mounir Barry, Director of Student Experience and Quality Assurance, whose commitment helped bring this evening to life, marked by rich discussions, meaningful testimonies and genuine connections.

In opening the event, Patrick Arsenault, Executive Director of Collège Nordique, expressed his pride in the completion of this collective project. He emphasized the importance of creating spaces where Nordicity can be expressed through the voices of those who live it, reflecting the richness of Francophone communities in minority contexts.

Underlying this initiative is also Collège Nordique’s desire to position itself in relation to Nordicity. Through this collection, the Collège affirms an institutional reflection rooted in its context, while placing community voices and lived experiences at the forefront.

Rather than offering a single definition, Nordicity creates a space where multiple perspectives can coexist, interact and contribute to a richer and more nuanced understanding of the territory and Northern Francophonie.

Throughout the readings and discussions, one thing became clear: Nordicity is much more than a collection of texts. It is a space where trajectories, languages, identities and connections intersect and take shape in the North.

Writing as a path to self-understanding and transformation

For many authors, writing became a powerful tool for introspection.

Natalia Perez Pedraza shares:

“Writing this text allowed me to explore these aspects freely and honestly, and to reflect on my own identity. It was, for me, one of the most meaningful learning experiences of this writing process. This work also transformed my understanding of Francophonie. Through my experiences in Yellowknife, I discovered a dynamic, welcoming and deeply human Francophone community. There is therefore a very positive impact in this process, along with a desire to continue reflecting, asking questions, bringing forward the thoughts that inhabit us, and giving them form through writing.”

Building connections through words

The Nordicity project also became a space for connection and collective creation.

Roxanne Valade explains:

“At first, I saw this as a writing challenge: playing with different levels of language and exploring what can be expressed in writing differently than in speech. But the process quickly became much more than that. Between people I already knew and those I was discovering, the exchanges, early drafts and discussions allowed us to build real connections. For me, it became a true space of encounter. The guidance of Myriam Provost Gariépy was also very meaningful. Whatever we put on paper, there was no judgment—only encouragement to go deeper and further. It created a safe environment where linguistic insecurity had no place.”

The North as a space for identity transformation

For Lisa Boisneault, the North became an unexpected experience shaped by encounters, chance and deep personal exploration:

“What brought me here was really a call of the North. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I wanted to experience it. And everything unfolded almost by chance: a video, a Facebook group, a connection… and suddenly I found myself in Yellowknife. I experienced things that were completely different from what I was used to—moments of disconnection, adventures, meaningful human encounters, as well as immersion in a completely different way of life, without running water or electricity. What marked me the most was the possibility of arriving as you are, being accepted, and taking the time to explore who you are and build your identity.”

Her journey does not end there. After the North, she is now continuing this personal exploration in Japan, guided by the same curiosity, desire to learn and commitment to better understanding herself through the places she inhabits.

Language, identity and transmission

Questions of language and identity are central throughout the collection.

Rosie Benning, Director of Teaching and Training at Collège Nordique, shares:

“I grew up anglophone, but I only spoke Vietnamese until the age of four. I think this gave me a particular sensitivity to languages and eventually led me to teaching French. But it is my students who have transformed me the most. Seeing them work so hard to reclaim their language made me reflect. I couldn’t ask them to speak their language at home if I wasn’t doing the same. So I decided to reconnect with Vietnamese, in solidarity with their journey. Today, I can proudly say that I am Francophone, because I live in French, I work in French and I share my life in French.”

A quest for meaning and freedom

The testimony of Isidore Guy Makaya brought a strong introspective dimension to the evening. Actively engaged both professionally and within the community, he also contributes to Éditions Présence Francophone, a partner of the project.

“I have always struggled to define myself through my past. I am more in a constant exploration of my subconscious, often asking myself: what am I doing here on earth? What brought me to the North is quite unusual—it was a dream. A voice told me to go to Yellowknife and meet someone. I didn’t know where it was or why. But I followed that call. My encounter with the North became an encounter with myself. Since then, I continue to explore, to transform, and to ask myself: who am I?”

Writing to reveal a collective experience

The Nordicity collection highlights both individual and collective experiences of the territory.

Angélique Ruzindana Umunyana, who has lived in Yellowknife since 2005 and is deeply engaged in the vitality of Francophonie in the Northwest Territories, shared a reflection on writing as a tool for transmission. Alongside Isidore Guy Makaya, she also contributes to Éditions Présence Francophone.

“This experience was meaningful on every level. Beyond the writing itself, there was the collective work, the exchanges, the revisions—it was a deeply collaborative process. We put Northern experiences into words, bringing together stories from people with diverse backgrounds, yet rooted in the same territory. Through these texts, we see themes that connect us: adventure, belonging, relationships, connection to nature, and life cycles. Together, we gave shape to what Nordicity represents.”

A living and evolving Northern Francophonie

The launch of the Nordicity collection highlighted a vibrant, diverse and deeply rooted Northern Francophonie. Through words, encounters and shared experiences, the authors brought forward a collective vision: one of a community that is building itself, telling its story and asserting its place.

By bringing together diverse journeys, this project reveals shared themes: the call of the North, identity transformation, relationships to language, the importance of human connections and a deep connection to nature.

More than a book, Nordicity becomes an act of transmission—one that affirms that Francophonie in the North is lived, written and shared, and continues to evolve through those who shape it.

This project does not end with its publication. The collection will be actively integrated into Collège Nordique’s teaching practices, particularly in French courses and within the Explore program, where it will serve as a foundation for discussions, writing activities and reflections on Northern realities. Through these uses, students will be able to see themselves in the stories, develop critical thinking and connect their own experiences to the territory.

Beyond the Collège, Nordicity also opens the door to collaborations with Francophone postsecondary institutions across the country. It can be used as a pedagogical tool to explore Francophonie in minority contexts, enrich existing courses or inspire new approaches grounded in contemporary and diverse realities.

A limited number of copies are currently available. Institutions, educators and organizations interested in obtaining the collection, using it in a learning context or exploring collaboration opportunities are invited to contact Collège Nordique.

Published on March 20th 2026