For the love of black and whites @ Jacobson native art 2021

Good afternoon to all my visitors, collectors and fans. Here’s to another blessed day of being alive and moving forward one day at a time. Although this pandemic has taken a real toll on our capacity for social relationships, sharing together and enjoying one another’s company, we must soldier on. Prayers and blessings for those going through a challenging time. Healing for those suffering. 

I wanted to share some inspiration through art and my cultural heritage. I have always been fond of the black and white drawings/paintings I’ve done. They are quite distinguishable from my use of colours. But have their own life force none the less. Working in this format helps to broaden the creative scope and vision of an Anishanabe woodland style artist. 

This process affords the artist to learn and grow with regard to line and form. The subject matter grows, refines itself through this process. We can find new imagery and designs in this flow. A way to work out the details and composition to a more refined state in result. Reminds me of our medicine scrolls and indeed that is exactly how I see these images myself. Rebirthing the stories and teachings of the animal clan council. 

I am honoured and thankful for the wisdom of our mother earth. Our ancestors knew this importance and understanding. It is our responsibility to continue to share these fundamentals and to give our history and teachings new life throughout every generation from this to the next. I truly love being an artist, a storyteller, a visionary. It is an honour to share these with each of you. Wishing you all continued strength and power....all my relations, MAJ 

Spending time in nature spirit @ Jacobson native art

 

Good afternoon to each and everyone. The seasons are changing once again as we enter into the beauty of another cycle of life existence. I am honoured and grateful for the connection to Mother nature out here deep in the Kootenay mountains. The vastness is just incredible and awe inspiring. I love to go adventure out deep in these mountains. There is so much to discover, see and experience. 

During many of my journeys out here I happened one day to come across this little cabin. It is a ski cabin deep in the mountains here. It is open to public access but I have to admit, it’s really hard to find. I have come here throughout my seasons to come up and paint here. It has a lovely little wood stove as well. 

It has a fire pit too for cooking and enjoying the benefits of eating supper right out here. I bring my kindling and a few split logs as well to keep things running warm up here. The perspectives of viewing the mountainous surroundings are outstanding. I have a small table and a couple chairs and I’m ready to go. 

I also would like to add that I’m a big fan of the “Artists way”. It is a wonderful companion to my creative energy and artistic process. It has numerous weekly tasks to do including a process called “morning pages”. I use this book and the information involved as one of my tools for maintaining my creative path. 

The quietness and stillness of mind is for me, a very integral part of creating my art. It sets the stage for the energy and imagery to come together. I hardly ever rework a design. Once it comes it comes out right, the first time. That is the beauty of creative self maintenance. It is important to take out the time for this as an artist. To restock the creative well. To feed our soul new energies, new experiences and new visions. 

Any how, I thought it would be fantastic to share some of these experiences and lengths I go to make art. The artistic process is just as much important as the art itself. These experiences help to foster greater growth and discovery. I love being an artist. I love connecting to the wisdom of our Mother Earth. Once again it is a great energy and experience to share some of these teachings and processes with all of you who come to visit. Wishing you all a great new awareness for the spring equinox of 2021. All my relations....MAJ

In honour of my son and the “Changes” always taking shape @ Jacobson native art

 Just a lil message from us here at Jacobson native art that life and its processes are full of changes. Feeling super grateful for the beauty and power of my lil son, Sagein Wisdom. An honour to walk 9n beauty with him each and every day. 

I’m putting the past behind me...my son is the investment of my future, his future. Enjoy this slice of heaven from Ozzy and his daughter Kelly, Changes:

All my relations, MAJ

Being a 60’s scoop survivor @ Jacobson native art

 My dealings with Canada as a First Nations soul has been absolutely tragic and heartbreaking on many levels. The hijacking of our land, the continual theft of our natural resources, colonial and cultural genocide, residential schools, stealing our children, the violence, the forceful control of being on reserves, the racism, the discrimination, the prejudice and violations of our human rights for 500 plus years now is absolutely disgusting. 

The truth is and continues to be that Canada was and is built on racism. It’s sickening. The perverse colonial mind set continues to roll on through in this, the 21st century. It’s sad and absolutely appalling on all levels with regard to being a human being. The destruction of our cultural practices, trying to wipe out our languages, stealing our cultural artifacts, dishonouring the treaties, wiping out and outlawing ceremonies,...the list goes on and on and on. 

And even under this darkness that colonialism is, we as First Nations continue to thrive and live. We continue to find our ways, we continue to heal and rise. And even in that, we First Nations continue to be welcoming and forgiving. We continue to share our love for not only the sacredness of the earth, but each other. 

What makes us even more powerful is that through the abuse and torture of colonialism we are forced to learn your ways, as settlers. Your languages, your history, your mathematics, your religion, your laws and your education. And on that we must rediscover who we are as indigenous, as First Nations, as Anishanabe. We literally have to live in 2 worlds. That of this perverse colonial system and that of our own history, our own teachings, native laws, cultural history, stories, songs, ceremonies and the arts. We literally have to learn how to think and live like an Indian in a white mans world. Even in that, what have you truly learned of us? 

That is what being a 60’s scoop survivor means to me. Through these lessons and experiences that I have gone through I have found the secret path. I have learned to free myself through these experiences. I learned that I did not have to identify with my abuser, in being a Canadian. I could be an Indian, an Anishanabe soul, entitled to my sovereignty as First Nations. That I could find my own way, my own beingness. 

I shared a post recently in this regard. I have a lot of support on social media. I am grateful for the connections and relationships that I’ve built and have over the years with those who fully support us and desire to work with us and not against us. Here is a sample of that post:

 I am very thankful that my teachings and experiences can have a powerful impact on the lives of others. That’s what sharing from the heart is all about. Something I’ve certainly discovered that the average Canadian settler/immigrant struggles to do with us as First Nations. It all comes down to perspective. My activism is and will always be about speaking truth to power. All my relations...MAJ