Cree artists and artisans from inland communities gathered in Ouje-Bougoumou April 17-18 to showcase their talent and creations. Attracting over 260 people, it was an impressive first project from the recently elected local arts committee.
The gathering was partly inspired by Chisasibi’s annual Christmas bazaar, an important regional marketplace for Cree crafts with a stage for musicians. Established artists such as Valentina Bosum, Lisa Neeposh and Alexandria Coon-Shecapio spoke about how they launched their careers.
“We want to bring attention to the need of preserving and encouraging art,” said local arts committee member Jossée Bernier. “It was fun to see artists from different communities come together. We don’t really have a regional art event for all the Cree communities – perhaps this is a step towards making that happen.”
The event featured an open mic to promote musicians, food and baked goods for sale and various prizes distributed throughout the weekend. It was an occasion to appreciate Eeyou Istchee’s talents and learn about career opportunities in arts and crafts. The gathering brought together all generations, including local high school students.
“We had a lot of Elders who showcased their work,” explained Bernier. “I enjoyed meeting artists to learn about their craft and style. It was mainly to support artists who are pursuing art to sustain themselves and an opportunity to showcase their work.”
A talented multidisciplinary visual artist, Bernier has also performed musically since age 15 with a festival appearance slated for later in May. She said the local arts committee is invigorated by its new six-person team, which held a meet-and-greet March 10 that included a discussion about what it might do next for the community.
Much of the gathering’s artwork honoured the beadwork, embroidery and woodwork passed on from Cree ancestors. Coon-Shecapio said it was the legacy of her late grandparents Thomas and Josephine Coon that motivated her to keep creating her respected regalia, earrings and other crafts.
“I really enjoyed listening to the speakers sharing their stories on how they became artists,” said committee member Paula Menarick. “We want to create an economy for our artists. We do want to inspire the future generation – there’s definitely a growing interest.”
Avidly into crafting “for forever”, Menarick worked with the Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association to add members at the event. She said sales have picked up at her crafts business Fast Cloud Inspirations since CNACA opened its Wachiya store in Old Montreal in August 2024.
“It’s probably why I’m getting people from all around Canada who purchase my crafts,” said Menarick. “I have my own website and sell to people in Eeyou Istchee, Nunavik and other First Nations in Canada and the United States. It’s pretty busy – I cannot keep up with the demand.”
Admitting that it can be scary to become a full-time artisan – “not knowing when your next income will be” – Menarick affirmed there is an increasingly lucrative market for traditional Cree crafts. While it takes a lot of time and hard work, for Menarick it’s always been a passion stemming from a fascination as a young girl watching her mother, aunts and grandmother.
“I wasn’t the best beader when I started,” shared Menarick. “You keep going and you begin to feel more confident in your work, inspiring yourself to keep learning new crafts and keep creating.”
With the diverse talents of the current local arts committee, Menarick said there’s vast potential for further activities and an array of workshops. Expressing hopes to expand this gathering to an annual event, she said some suggested having more demonstrations of artists creating their work.
Special guest Tim Whiskeychan spoke about how he creates his “pop art”, which involves rubbing charcoal on paper covering a crushed pop can, challenging himself to make a piece in seconds from whatever imagery emerges.
“A lot is hidden that a hunter can interpret,” Whiskeychan asserted. “If you put a very knowledgeable hunter in the bush, he can tell you exactly where he is. You try to challenge yourself in the vagueness. In the eyes of the hunter there’s no such thing as being vague. If you’re not sure, your chances of survival will be vague.’’
Making art for over 40 years, Whiskeychan approaches his work with the dedication of a master hunter. His lifetime habit of rising at 5am is inherited from his late father Harry, himself a skilled creator of tamarack decoys and a prized fiddle player. He said Elders remember how his father’s music brought joy to community dances in the 1960s.
Whiskeychan recognized many at the gathering from a time when he exhibited then-underpriced artwork with his father. His presentation was an unscripted discussion about his experience as an artist and the reality of sales and promotion.
“I mentioned that if you’re always struggling for money doing art that’s not going to get you where you want to be,” said Whiskeychan. “Art comes from the heart and the desire of just doing it. Success is not measured in the money you make – money comes and goes but your art stays forever.”
Saying it’s essential to discover one’s own style, Whiskeychan encourages younger artists not to stick with just one. The Cree cultural ambassador has displayed a wide variety of painting techniques, collage, etchings, prints and cut steel panes at shows around the world. More recently, he adopted digital technology and exhibited an abstract series.
“I’ve been exploring a Cree version of abstract art with [late artist Jean-Paul] Riopelle,” said Whiskeychan. “I don’t call myself Riopelle – it’s the aesthetics of Cree knowledge combined with abstract. Some say I’m jumping around too much. I don’t limit myself.”
He hopes to visit Cree communities to share his insights about the pleasures and struggles of an artist’s life, suggesting working with others in a Cree version of the Group of Seven. There are talks of collaborating with CNACA this summer for an art performance in Montreal.
“When I think of all the artwork I’ve done over the years, I’ve surprised myself that I’ve spent so many hours,” Whiskeychan reflected. “Yet, none of them were boring. You’ll never finish learning till the day you’re gone.”