Growing up Anishinaabe in Winnipeg, I was surrounded by art. From a young age, I marvelled at vibrant X-ray-like images of the natural world — two-dimensional compositions featuring charismatic animals and important figures framed by trees, water and earth. This style, known as the Woodland School, had a profound effect on me, shaping my eventual career as a visual artist working in the style of four generations of artists who came before me.

The most well-known of those artists is the late Norval Morrisseau, founder of the Woodland School of Art and the first Anishinaabe artist to achieve international fame for his work. Often called the “Picasso of the North,” Morrisseau shared vibrant visions of a spirit world through the lens of a shaman. His art now hangs in major galleries around the........

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