Turtle Island Productions

Norval Morrisseau

Norval Morrisseau is arguably the most well known Ojibway Artist, perhaps even the most recognized First Nations artist in the world. He is the founder of the Canadian-originated school of art called "Woodland" or sometimes "Legend" painting. His work has influenced a large group of younger Ojibwe and Cree artists, among them Blake Debassige, Tom Chee Chee and Leland Bell. Although Morrisseau's work is not as well known in the US, particularly in the trendy Indian Art world of Santa Fe, NM, his work has been exhibitted in Canada and Europe for decades.

I am personally attracted to Morrisseau's art because he is Ojibway, and also because he was born not far from my own birthplace, Nipigon, Ontario. Morrisseau was born on Sand Point Reserve (located on the south shore of Lake Nipigon) near Beardmore, Ontario on March 14, 1932 (my parents were married in Beardmore). He was raised by his Maternal Grandparents, Moses (Potan) Nanakonagos and his wife, Vernique, on the Gull Bay shore of Lake Nipigon. He was given the name "Copper Thunder" (Miskwaabik Animiiki). Grandfather Potan was a Midewewin and Jissakan (Shanking Tent Seer). Norval learned stories, myths and spirituality from his Grandfather. He completed only the 4th grade at the Indian Boarding School in Ft. William (now Thunder Bay). At home he explored old sites and canoe routes, paying particular attention to petroglyphs or art rock. When he attempted to paint his thoughts, dreams and visions; elders told him not to. Nonetheless, Morrisseau proceeded to depict the visions that came to him while recuperating from TB . His "X-Ray" paintings from his early period depict the preceived insides of animals and people. This method or style was widely adapted by followers of the Woddland School. These features can also be found, although with much less artistc expression, on birchbark scrolls of Midewewin rites and rock petroglyphs found on the shores of Lake Superior.

Morrisseau's big "break" came when he met famed artist Jackson Pollock in 1962 in Toronto. Pollock was so impressed with Morrisseau's work that he put on a solo show for him at his Toronto gallery. The show was a success, selling every painting. Soon jealously among tribal members arose, after criticizing Morrisseau for revealing the Ojibway's legends and beliefs in his paintings. This criticism stemmed also from his book "Legends of My People, The Great Ojibway 1965. Morrisseau responded to the criticism by saying he wanted to restore cultural pride to the largely Catholicized Ojibway people. As his career and reputation grew, Morrisseau donated paintings to raise money for the Indian school and for other reserve needs of the people.

Morrisseau presently lives in British Columbia, and is represented by several galleries in Canada. His art continues to reach a new and bigger audience as well as influencing and inspiring younger generations of Indian artists across Canada and increasingly in the United States.

Patrick DesJarlait