Norval Morrisseau

Born on the 14^th of March, 1932, at the Sand Point Ojibway reserve, Norval Morrisseau has since cemented his place as a Canadian Indigenous artist of great acclaim. In keeping with Anishnaabe custom, Norval was raised by his maternal grandparents. His grandfather, Moses Potan Nanakonagos, a well-known shaman, was instrumental in teaching him the legends of his people. As a self-taught artist and early adopter of artistic expression, Norval adapted the traditions of Ojibwe oral culture, relaying them through the visual processes of painting. His signature style has since become known as the "Woodlands School" a unique combination of European easel painting, Ojibwe Midewiwin Society scrolls, vibrant colour work, and the characters inherent to Rock Painting.

With an ever-evolving practice, Morrisseau continued to study Ojibwe shamanistic practices until late in his life, infusing more spiritual themes into his process and therein elevating his work to a higher plane of understanding.

Over the years, Norval received many awards in recognition of his achievements. He was a recipient of the Canada Centennial Medal in 1968, was appointed a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art in 1973 and the Order of Canada in 1978. He was acknowledged as Grand Shaman of the Ojibwa in 1986, and honoured by the Assembly of First Nations in 1995. In 2006, he was the first First Nations artist to have a retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada.

After over nearly 50 years of intense artistic production, Norval Morrisseau passed away on December 4^th, 2007 in Toronto.