The best examples of Canadian craftsmanship – fine craft and sculpture – have their origins in indigenous culture, Indian and Inuit. Unfortunately, much of Indigenous art has remained outside the realm of widespread awareness and appreciation. Nevertheless, Canadian indigenous art is rich in creative ideas and their translation into form, and forms a significant part of pan-Canadian culture and art.
Norval Morrisseau, whose Native American name is Copper Thunderbird, is a talented artist who has had an invaluable influence on the development of authentic art. As an Ojibwe shaman, Mr. Morrisseau was the first artist to bring together modernist style and traditional Native American imagery in his paintings. His style is known today as “Woodland,” the painting of legends. The revival of ancient Indian prints made on birch bark, motifs similar to those depicted in X-rays, connecting lines between animals and people are the characteristic features of Norval Morrisseau’s paintings.
The ability to synthesize the traditions of tribal peoples and the features of European and American traditions into a single whole was an important facet in the formation of the national spirit of true Canadian art.