THEY speak a different language, feel their culture is unique and love to debate the pros and cons of independence.

Are they Quebecers? Hell, no -- St. Jean Baptiste Day has come and gone.

The distinct society of the week is Puerto Rico, the Spanish-speaking U.S. commonwealth smack in the middle of the sunny Caribbean.

Just like Quebec, only a minority of people in Puerto Rico actually want a fully independent state. The U.S greenback, like the Canadian dollar, makes a strong case for remaining part of a greater federation.

But all Puerto Ricans feel like a separate nation, in the sense that boricuas -- which is what residents of this island nation call themselves -- have a very clear cultural identity.

"All Puerto Ricans feel like Puerto Ricans. Even those of us who want to achieve U.S. statehood still want to remain Puerto Rico," says Gary Nunez, bandleader for Plena Libre, a seven-piece boricua outfit that plays plena, a style of Afro-Caribbean music unique to Puerto Rico.

Here this weekend for the Winnipeg Folk Festival, this band is on a mission to show the world what real Puerto Rican music sounds like, as opposed to the stylized Latin pop of Ricky Martin, the island nation's most famous musical export.

"There are a lot of Puerto Rican artists who are well known internationally, but our music is not well known outside of our country. I thought it's time we shared it with the rest of the world," says Nunez, who plays bass and arranges most of the music for the 10-year-old septet.

The sound of plena differs from salsa (a term that usually refers to Cuban-inspired, New York City-bred Latin jazz) in that the rhythms are far more syncopated.

"It's more complicated, but easier to dance to. It's comprised of three different patterns from three different hand drums," explains Nunez, pointing out that only plena uses a small drum called the pandero.

"Plena is our music. It's been in our traditions for more than 100 years. It started off with the farmers in the fields, singing songs and telling stories."

Plena Libre is part of a small Latin music contingent at this year's Winnipeg Folk Festival, sharing the daytime Shady Grove stage Saturday at 2:15 p.m. with Manitoba's Papa Hijo and also kicking off Sunday night's Mainstage concert at 6 p.m.

The other Latino act is Cuban vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer and members of Buena Vista Social Club, who kick off tonight's Mainstage concert at 6 p.m.

This weekend's shows will mark Plena Libre's first visit to Manitoba, but Nunez is prepared.

"I know mosquitoes, at least the ones we have here in Puerto Rico."