Indigenous History Month 2022
It is important for Indigenous Peoples to celebrate their history because doing so helps to stop the loss and grow their cultures. Celebrating their history invigorates pride in being Indigenous. In their existence. In the preservation of their cultures, protocols, spirituality, traditions, and languages.
It is important for non-Indigenous people to celebrate National Indigenous History Month to learn more about the cultural and linguistic diversity as well as the contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and MĂ©tis peoples.
Many OCV student and staff had the privilege of attending a workshop with Anishinaabe artist, Mark Seabrook to learn about and create a piece in the "Woodlands" style of art created by Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau.
Mark Seabrook, a gifted Anishinaabe artist, poet, writer, performer, and playwright is a recent addition to the Ottawa area artistic and spiritual community.
He paints quickly, driven to record, again and again, bold images and symbols that speak eloquently of his Anishinaabe heritage. Once his vision is recorded, he works with it, refining and enhancing it until he is satisfied and can move on to the next canvas
Born to both Bird Clan and Fish Clan, birds and fish feature prominently in many of his paintings. The birds, often ravens, sit silent and bear witness or carry messages to the figures that live within his works.
The Art of Mark Seabrook
Staff and Student work:
Maryam K
Colour Crazy Fish Clan
June 2022Watercolor, pencil, colored pencils
Well, we did a workshop with Mark Seabrook, and he did this amazing Indigenous drawing of the fish clan and he told us to put our own spin on it, and go "Colour Crazy".
Fish Clan Drawing
June 2022Watercolor, pencil, colored pencils
M. Boyer
Indigenous drawing
June 2022I used ruler, eraser, and colouring markers
I really got inspired how the fish that looks like a piranha has a meaning from the indigenous cultures. My techniques the first thing I did painting with colouring markers because I wanted to look my drawing exactly the original art but the designs I create them differently.
Ms. Smid
Power Bird
June 2022Sharpie
This was a lesson with Anishinaabe artist, Mark Seabrook. It is in appreciation of the "Woodlands" style of art created by Indigenous artist, Norval Morrisseau.
Kalyah Mckesey
Power Bird
June 2022Mixed media on paper
Ravina Thineshkumar
Power Bird
June 2022Markers on paper
We had our class with Mr.Seabrook during the week of Mullivaikal. This is why I wanted to honour the people that died during the Tamil Genocide with the help of Anishinaabe art. I wanted my powerbird to represent the people that died during the Tamil Genocide.
Katie Balloch
The Bear
June 2022Sketch paper, pencil, sharpie, and coloured markers
Mark Seabrook inspired me and taught the class throigh how to create this piece while also including things we love.
Maxwell Wagner
June 2022Digital Drawing
Water Spirit
June 2022Digital Drawing
Water Spirit
June 2022Markers on paper
Dana Naas
June 2022Mixed media on paper
Water Spirit
June 2022Markers on paper
Water Spirit
June 2022Markers, Sharpie, Pencil Crayon on paper
Isobel Mckell-Wlodarczyk
Prying Eyes
June 2022Fish Clan
Markers on paper
Amina B
Indigenous Drawing
June 2022Fish Clan
Markers on paper
Colour Crazy Fish Clan
June 2022Pencil Cayons and paper
Water Spirit
June 2022Digital Drawing
Mark Seabrook came as a guest to our class and led an art class where he showed us how to draw in Norval Morisseau’s style and explained to us the storytelling that goes into this type of art.
The Storyteller
June 2022Coloured marker, Sharpie and Sketchbook
Dinuri G.
As of now, animals are facing an era of darkness, and have fewer happy memories to enjoy. The bubbles represent the memories, which are greater towards the light; fewer near the dark.