Artists on display for community teach in at Canadore College

An artist since he was 11 years old, Gabriel Ottawa is a 17-year-old Canadore College student from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg displaying his work at the 2020 Canadore College community teach in.

By Kelly Anne Smith

NORTH BAY— Talented artists were part of the 2020 Canadore College community teach in on dance styles, an event that led up the 30th annual pow wow celebration at the college.

Gabriel Ottawa showed his artwork of famous people. Ottawa is a 17-year-old student in the Indigenous Wellness and Addiction Prevention Program at Canadore College.

“We focus on wellness. I will be 18 when I finish the course then I’m thinking of going into Fine Art at Nipissing.”

Ottawa is from Kitigan Zibi Anishinaabeg, an Algonquin First Nation near Quebec.

“It’s a reserve called Kitigan Zibi. That’s where I started my art career. My dad is an artist too. He’s better than me. My dad bought my first art table when I was eleven. That’s when I started to take it seriously. I would go down to it every night and just draw,” recalls Ottawa. “I say it’s my main self-care method. It’s a therapeutic thing. You’re alone with your paper and your pencil creating something. Because I’ve been at it for so long, I progress better and better each time.”

Ottawa says he often works in series. Stars from Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and the Ink Master winner Ryan Ashley Malarkey are framed.

“I posted it on Instagram and [Marlarkey] liked it. That was a good surprise.”

Larry Rivers of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory is a spiritual artist, living with mother earth and the old teachings.

Another artist had his paintings on display. Living in North Bay, Larry Rivers of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory has been a spiritual artist for 35 years.

“Doing what you should be doing. This is where my whole world is, living with Mother Earth and our old teachings,” explains Rivers. “I’ve been labeled a spiritual artist because I live in sobriety. Everything I talk about is what the Creator can do for us and what you can do for the Creator. And how we all come together with Mother Earth and Father Sky.”

Rivers says being an artist is healing.

“When I get a lot of confusion, I pick up my paintbrush and usually by the time I finish a painting, I’ve got my problem solved.”

Sending good intentions for others is part of his focus.

“I want to help out others through art work. Everybody loves art. Once I tell the story with my art, they bring it home. That piece of work will always be there to heal and help them. That’s how I became a spiritual artist.”

Vendors included Brenda Whiteduck from Manitoulin Island with an array of jewelry, fashion and regalia accessories.

Spirit Chickadee Designs offered hand-painted feathers, canvases, key chains, and paddles.

Joyce Lavigne of Nipissing First Nation travels the pow wow trail. Lavigne has drum kits available as well as handcrafted drums, birch bark baskets, beads, bags and purses.