Nitassinan – Photographs by Yann Datessen

Throughout May, for the^fifth consecutive year, the Orangerie at the Jardin des Plantes will host an exhibition by artist Yann Datessen as part of the “Parallèle” section of the Boutographies festival, a major photography event in Montpellier.

A self-taught photographer who now teaches at several institutions of higher education, Yann Datessen creates documentaries that explore various figures on the margins of society.

Between 2022 and 2025, he regularly visited several communities of the Innu Nation, which led to the series on display here. “Nitassinan” is the name the Innu give to their land, which has been rich and coveted for centuries. As the first of the North American nations to encounter white travelers in the^16th century, the Innu have seen their freedom and territory diminish over time. Nevertheless, they strive to preserve their cultural identity, which is deeply rooted in this land.

In this exhibition, Yann Datessen creates sensitive portraits of the members of these communities, revealing both their living conditions and the transformation of the landscape around them. Through the changing seasons, he captures a profound connection between people and their environment, where every face and every landscape tells a part of the same story.