Norval Morrisseau "I go to the inner places. I go to the source. I even dare to say, I go to the house of invention where all the inventors of mankind have been." Self Portrait

“My paintings are icons, that is to say they are images that focus on spiritual powers, generated by traditional beliefs and wisdom.” Shaman’s Ride

Otter with Michael

Young Ojibway Indian Man with Eagle Headdress" "Child Like Simplicity"

Born outside of Thunder Bay. He is Ojibway A career of nearly fifty years His art and its transformations that have earned him the title shaman artist. At the age of thirteen he was given the name Copper Thunderbird by a medicine woman. The Thunderbird is a powerful Anishnaabe (Ojibwa) deity.

Morrisseau learned Anishnaabe cosmology from his shaman grandfather, a member of the Midewiwin religious society, Morrisseau learned Anishnaabe cosmology from his shaman grandfather, a member of the Midewiwin religious society, Christianity from his Catholic grandmother. Christianity from his Catholic grandmother. He studied his Anishnaabe heritage intensively, becoming a shaman. He studied his Anishnaabe heritage intensively, becoming a shaman. His art draws upon Midewiwin birchbark scrolls, rock paintings and Anishnaabe decorative arts. His art draws upon Midewiwin birchbark scrolls, rock paintings and Anishnaabe decorative arts.

Oral tradition His grandfather told him the stories and legends passed down amongst the Ojibwa people. His grandfather told him the stories and legends passed down amongst the Ojibwa people. As a child Norval began producing images to illustrate these stories. As a child Norval began producing images to illustrate these stories. He would draw on the sandy beaches of Lake Nippagon with a stick and let the waves take the images away. He would draw on the sandy beaches of Lake Nippagon with a stick and let the waves take the images away. He was told by some that it was taboo to illustrate these stories. He was told by some that it was taboo to illustrate these stories.

His art is like a stain glass window Transforming With Grandson was painted in 1990 by artist and shaman Norval Morrisseau. Norval borrowed from his Catholic roots a style that he was comforatble with for religious iconography.

His visions, like ancient taboos that have turned into dreams of the future, come to life on canvas and paper. His visions, like ancient taboos that have turned into dreams of the future, come to life on canvas and paper. They are talismans of the future and images of respect of the past. They are talismans of the future and images of respect of the past.

Sharing his story Norval was the first to paint the ancient myths and legends of the eastern woodlands, stories previously passed down by the oral tradition. Norval was the first to paint the ancient myths and legends of the eastern woodlands, stories previously passed down by the oral tradition. His art creates a bridge of understanding between native and non-native cultures His art creates a bridge of understanding between native and non-native cultures It appeals to a broad audience without diminishing the integrity of their content. It appeals to a broad audience without diminishing the integrity of their content.

Woodland or Legend painting The artist charted the creative and spiritual journey that would contribute to his unique style of painting known as “Woodland” or “Legend” painting, now called Anishnaabe, of which he is the originator. The artist charted the creative and spiritual journey that would contribute to his unique style of painting known as “Woodland” or “Legend” painting, now called Anishnaabe, of which he is the originator. His works evoke ancient symbolic etchings of His works evoke ancient symbolic etchings of sacred birchbark scrolls sacred birchbark scrolls and pictographic renderings of spiritual creatures, and pictographic renderings of spiritual creatures, Morrisseau “reveals” the souls of humans and animals through his unique “x-ray” style of imaging: Morrisseau “reveals” the souls of humans and animals through his unique “x-ray” style of imaging:

Artist and Shaman Between Two Worlds 1980

His Style Combining rich colours, he represents inner realities with strong flowing lines, often indicating spiritual forces. Combining rich colours, he represents inner realities with strong flowing lines, often indicating spiritual forces. His art expresses his spiritual explorations and aspects of Anishnaabe culture His art expresses his spiritual explorations and aspects of Anishnaabe culture It reflects: It reflects: tensions between Aboriginal cultures and Christianity, tensions between Aboriginal cultures and Christianity, shamanism, shamanism, the interconnection between all living things and the importance of the family the interconnection between all living things and the importance of the family

Tell your story Share a family story that gets retold around the dinner table or when your relatives get together. Or record an event that took place on a family trip 10 marks Draw and colour this narrative story in the Woodland style of Morrisseau 5 marks Write a paragraph that tells the story in words