Talented Anishinaabe youth artist featured on cover of 30th Annual Great Lakes Pow Wow Guide
By Kelly Anne Smith
BEAUSOLEIL FIRST NATION— Anishinaabe youth artist Bryce King-Robitaille has an art-filled future ahead of her.
Bryce’s artwork entitled, Family and Culture, is prominently featured as the Anishinabek Nation’s 30th Annual Great Lakes Pow Wow Guide front cover. With the Great Lakes Pow Wow Guide circulating for a year in 39 First Nations and surrounding Friendship Centres, as well as businesses throughout Anishinabek Nation territory, her art work is sure to be seen by many.
Bryce was the first-place winner of the 2023 Anishinabek Nation Christmas card contest in November 2023. Her card artwork received such a wonderful response from the recipients, that she was commissioned to design the Guide’s cover.
Bryce is a 17-year-old citizen of Beausoleil First Nation and lives in Penetanguishene with her mom Amber King-Robitaille and two dogs, Buster and Dipper.
A Grade 12 student at St. Teresa’s Catholic High School, Bryce looks forward to her post-secondary opportunities.
“I’ve recently applied to colleges for graphic design. I’ve gotten into four out of the five I’ve applied to, which is exciting.”
Bryce is interested in graphic arts in the advertising and marketing fields and aspires to work for her community.
“I have always loved sharing my art and being able to share my creativity with my community would be a wonderful experience.”
Describing her piece, Family and Culture, Bryce spoke of being together with the earth and the four medicines.
“My inspiration was family and traditions through culture. It ties to nature.”
The young artist explores many mediums in her art.
“I do a lot of traditional art with pencils and painting with watercolour or acrylic paint. Digital art is a newer art medium I’ve been working on. I have been recently learning on an iPad through a program called Procreate. It’s definitely been interesting learning how to use it and I’m always finding new techniques and methods.”
Art has always been a part of Bryce’s life she says.
“It’s been an outlet. And I’ve always been surrounded by creative people. My mom, she loves crafting, painting, and beading. And my grandmothers, they have always been creative and really inspired to do things in new ways.”
Bryce enjoys being around other people and exploring, travelling, and taking in new environments. She is also fond of reading real life stories and fiction.
As for the pow wow trail, Bryce likes to take part.
“Our family tries to attend pow wows in our area or communities around who are hosting. I used to dance when I was younger. Now I join for open dances with my younger cousins or my mom and auntie.”
The family keeps up to date with the Anishinabek News.
“My mother and I always read about it and like that connection to other communities and the Anishinabek Nation as a whole, just knowing what is going on and all the exciting things that everyone is up to.”
The 30th annual Great Lakes Pow Wow Guide can be read here.