Sending out blessings of wisdom on national indigenous peoples day this June 21st, 2025

 

Title of painting on canvas: Good chief / bad chief - which will you choose to be

Happy national indigenous peoples day to all my friends and family. A big Miigwetch of love and respect to many of my art fans and collectors and I am so blessed to have dedicated people who surround me each and every day. I am honoured that I can speak the truth and to continue trudging this road of life and destiny. I’ll be celebrating 27 years off the booze and I’m super grateful for this blessing. It has changed my life so dramatically and obviously has introduced me to a vast knowledge and know how in spirituality. My sovereignty as an Anishanabe culture creator/artist lighting the way for 40 plus years now. What a ride so far in this the 21st century. 

Pictured here: my son and I receiving our 60’s scoop quilt from Quilts for survivors 

Just feeling some gratitude for what is working in my life. The love for my son and being a good partner to his mom and us working on the healing and freedom through decolonization of being solid in our family unit starts there each and every day. The foundation of our family is we walk in a softer, kinder and gentler way each and every day. Freedom to be ourselves and giving one another all the space in the world to be ourselves. We don’t practice control, zero violence, no manipulation, speak freely, always room to grow, have fun, be genuine. 

Having the space to be your own genuine self in your family is absolutely essential. No one wants to be told what to do, arguing is pointless. Being a good listener who follows up with positive actions and walks with self honesty and integrity is where it’s at. We have one another’s back. Every day. It’s pretty awesome and inspiring learning how to be healthy and strong together. I love my family. They love me. We’re cool. 

Here are a few good teachings to practice and try to live by. 

1: Be honest. Be authentic. It’s the light of your spirit.

2: Daily prayer and meditation keep the mind clean & quiet.

3: Anishanabe ways work. Use them. It’s good medicine.

4: It doesn’t matter how others think of you. It matters how you think of you.

5: Gratitude is powerful. It helps to transcend suffering.

6: Observance of source in all things. Hard to do when humans can be horribly ugly.

7: Nurturance of life. Give, share, nurture others, kindness and respect. 

Pictured here: our indigenous soul sister in Star & her daughter @ Jacobson native art

Once again I say chi-Miigwetch for all the good being created and shared with us and I look forward to continuing to share much more over the next few months. We’ve got some very exciting things waiting to be shared and we continue to expand our creative vision and blueprint. Here’s to the healing of all First Nations people and I’m thankful to continue to be an authentic source for truth and reconciliation and I appreciate many of you so very much. Stay tuned as we’ve got more to share…

Rainbow Thunderbird - MAJ 🌈🦅🌈

Enjoy this drum song by Northern Cree…

Important news today @ Jacobson native art: Vatican formally renounces Doctrine of discovery after decades of Indigenous demands

 

By Nicole Winfield  The Associated Press

Posted March 30, 2023 4:45 am

 

 

The Vatican on Thursday responded to Indigenous demands and formally repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery,” the theories backed by 15th-century “papal bulls” that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Indigenous lands and form the basis of some property law today.

A Vatican statement said the 15th-century papal bulls, or decrees, “did not adequately reflect the equal dignity and rights of  indigenous peoples” and have never been considered expressions of the Catholic faith.

It said the documents had been “manipulated” for political purposes by colonial powers “to justify immoral acts against Indigenous peoples that were carried out, at times, without opposition from ecclesial authorities.”

The statement, from the Vatican’s development and education offices, said it was right to “recognize these errors,” acknowledge the terrible effects of colonial-era assimilation policies on Indigenous peoples and ask for their forgiveness.

The statement was a response to decades of Indigenous demands for the Vatican to formally rescind the papal bulls that provided the Portuguese and Spanish kingdoms the religious backing to expand their territories in Africa and the Americas for the sake of spreading Christianity.

Those decrees underpin the “Doctrine of Discovery,” a legal concept coined in a 1823 U.S. Supreme Court decision that has come to be understood as meaning that ownership and sovereignty over land passed to Europeans because they “discovered” it.

It was cited as recently as a 2005 Supreme Court decision involving the Oneida Indian Nation written by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

During Pope Francis’ 2022 visit to Canada, during which he apologized to Indigenous peoples for the residential school system that forcibly removed Indigenous children from their homes, he was met with demands for a formal repudiation of the papal bulls.

In the statement, the Vatican said: “In no uncertain terms, the Church’s magisterium upholds the respect due to every human being. The Catholic Church therefore repudiates those concepts that fail to recognize the inherent human rights of Indigenous peoples, including what has become known as the legal and political “doctrine of discovery.”

The Vatican offered no evidence that the three 15th-century papal bulls (Dum Diversas in 1452, Romanus Pontifex in 1455 and Inter Caetera in 1493) had themselves been formally abrogated, rescinded or rejected, as Vatican officials have often said.

But it cited a subsequent bull, Sublimis Deus in 1537, that reaffirmed that Indigenous peoples shouldn’t be deprived of their liberty or the possession of their property, and were not to be enslaved.

It was significant that the repudiation of the “Doctrine of Discovery” came during the pontificate of history’s first Latin American pope. The Argentine Francis, who even before the Canadian trip, had apologized to Indigenous peoples in Bolivia in 2015 for the crimes of the colonial-era conquest of the Americas. It was issued while he was in the hospital Thursday with a respiratory infection.

Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of the Vatican’s culture office, said the statement was a reflection of the Vatican’s dialogue with Indigenous peoples.

“This Note is part of what we might call the architecture of reconciliation and also the product of the art of reconciliation, the process whereby people commit to listening to each other, to speaking to each other and to growth in mutual understanding,” he said in a statement.

Our heart and soul is beginning to heal now around the trauma of recovering our residential school children...

 

It sure has been a very challenging and difficult journey over these last 14 months going through this deep and dark trauma of discovering all these murdered children across our stolen lands...known as colonial Canada. Many of these children are still yet to be discovered. This has been a challenging time processing all of this. I feel as though I am beginning to come to terms with this horrific reality. The emotional scaring has been so difficult to examine and feel. In honour of these beautiful children I had to go through it to truly understand my relationship to this. What it means to me as an Anishanabe, a 60’s scoop survivor, a direct descendent of the horror of residential schools.  

In the second photo above is a ceremonial letting go and turning my back on anything and everything, Christian. I took all of these items and references out of my home 5 years ago, said a prayer to the CREATOR and dropped down a tobacco offering. It was done as part of my spiritual journey to decolonize. This act symbolizes my cutting these ties permanently and completely surrendering to my Indianess, my sovereignty as an Anishanabe soul here on our land, my land. I’ve also made the commitment 5 years ago as well to never step inside a church ever again. Never. I’m absolutely and 100% done. The roots must be completely severed from the abuser in order to completely surrender to the healing and move on. That is my experience. 

And so it is and so it will be, focusing on the new path forward. Believing in the future of my people, our healing and wellness being the seat of the soul so to speak. Trying to be an example of the power rather than a power of example. Creator spirit is this light I am speaking to. Although this year has been a really challenging one for so many effected by these tragedies we will continue to heal and find new and meaningful ways to come together and work as a family should, the human family. We all can benefit from learning how to be more loving towards one another. In honour of the souls of these children I will continue to try and be a better me each and every day. Sending love and healing to everyone who needs it...all my relations, MAJ

Dear Canada, I’m ashamed of you for murdering our Residential school children...it’s so disgusting!

 

These are indeed very dark and challenging times. The very fact that the international criminal court will not follow through with an investigation into these Active crime scenes is perhaps some of the greatest injustice I have ever seen in my lifetime. It’s beyond appalling and should be recognized for the abortion of the rule of law that it is. 

That is exactly what the rule of law is on our holy and sacred lands. A grotesque perversion of colonial white settler racism in its ugliest and shittiest of forms. Oh Canada, your home on stolen lands. Killing little innocent children in the name of progress, in pride of being a so called Canadian. Super fuckin gross and super fuckin disturbing if you ask me. 

Everything I have said has come true up to this point. The absurd apology of the pope of the Catholic Church is meaningless. It has zero depth and weight. Apologizing for murder wouldn’t cut it in any courtroom across Canada as a solution that would suffice. How the fuck could it? Any normal person knows that getting away with crimes against humanity is much like nazi Germany getting away with war crimes against the Jews.

It is skin crawling disgusting. I think of anyone being proud to be a Canadian and it gives me the major shivers and hee bee gee bees. Holy fuck is right. Giving your life in honour of this country and it’s real history of murdering tens of thousands of innocent children and building your settler dreams on the very backs of these dead children makes you really think about values. I know this:

I’m absolutely grateful to be awake and to have the veil lifted so that I can truly see things as they are. I am a sovereign Anishanabe. I will continue to speak for those whose voice was robbed of them by Canada and their agents of death, the Catholic and Christian churches along with the RCMP. All twisted fucks. I’m in a place of deep healing and reflection and I will need some time to rest for a while...my soul is tired. My heart is heavy and I need time to heal from these continual acts of genocide...MAJ

The reality of truth and reconciliation @ Jacobson native art

 

Good afternoon to each and everyone who continues to find me here @ Jacobson native art. Well as many of us know today is the first annual national truth and reconciliation day. Definitely another move in the right direction but a very small move it is. There is such a list of grievances against this nation called Canada. 

There are many agents who are guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity including the Catholic Church, many other Christian churches as well including many of the police forces as well as the RCMP. It’s absolutely disgusting on so many levels. How, (their rule of law was invented on stolen Indian land) when the white man says to follow the rule of law but they cannot follow it themselves. They choose to find ways to hide from their crimes, to bend the law, the rules and everything else they get their fuckin hands on, to their own advantage. It’s a real dr. Jeckel and mr. Hyde scenario. 

Canada and most Canadians simply cannot be fully trusted. Most Canadians are complete airheads when it comes to the history of how Canada came to be. (Even the white man in me knows this) How they got what they got....(stolen goods from stolen lands resources etc). Most Canadians dont even know how bad they got it. They are so colonized and assimilated that they literally can’t even think for themselves so they vote for white colonial so-called leaders to do the thinking for them.

And that is exactly the reason why Canada continues to fail miserably with us First Nations. Obviously there are tens of thousands of more reasons on top of that but the reality is Canada is a genocidal program built on the murder of us First Nations and the continual raping and exploitation of our resources. Our wealth. The colonial doctrine of discovery is a racist and discriminatory action against First Nations and other indigenous tribes throughout the world. 

Canadians whether they know it or not, their so called country is built on this foundation. Land theft, resource theft, murder, rape, stealing our children, racism, discrimination, hate, violence, force and control. Building your dreams as Canadians on the backs of oppression, on the very backs of us First Nations. That is what Canada is. That is what it means to identify as a Canadian. It’s gross I know. But this is the truth. And we cannot have true reconciliation until we deal with these matters of truth. 

I’ve always said since my awakening into my own process of decolonization and for the last few years now being in the pursuit of my sovereignty as Anishanabe that reconciliation will take time. In fact, the way I see it is that the cultural fabric of this country is still in the discovery of the truth phase. We have not even truly begun to deal with what real reconciliation will look like. 

Still even in the thickness of all of this, I must continue to remain hopeful. The fog of assimilation is beginning to lift albeit very slowly across our lands. I have friends who wouldn't be able to grasp any of this 5 years ago. They now can talk more openly with me about it. I see organizations and people beginning to stand up more and more with regard to how this must shift and change for all First Nations and Canadians alike. 

For now we will continue to move forward each and every day. I’m willing to seek this change and I’m willing to open up my heart to others who want to walk this path with us. I truly believe that it will remain a difficult challenge for Canada to learn how to shift and change with us. The government knows that they are in the wrong. Most of them know it. But greed, selfishness and exploitation still lead the way in the Canadian mind set. And let’s be honest, until our white settler brothers and sisters learn how to decolonize themselves, we are still a long long way from real and meaningful change. These types of Canadian settler sickness must be dealt with. It is the very poison that keeps the genocidal colonial machine still alive in this, the 21st century. 

Check out this 6 minute Video by one of the great First Nations teachers of our time: Arthur Manuel on aboriginal title:

All my relations, MAJ

Love and healing for these 751 souls of our children recently discovered @ Cowessess First Nations

 

Wishing each and everyone love and healing during this tragic and very difficult time. It has taken me a few days to try and process this new discovery of these most beautiful of our people, our children. This particular new finding of 751 bodies is beyond understanding. I can’t even reason it. It’s just so dark.

This tragedy hits home for us here @ Jacobson native art. The mother of our son is from Cowessess First Nations. This means that because we follow matriarchal way of our teachings my son is tied to Cowessess. This is his First Nation. Those children recently discovered would have been great aunties and uncles, cousins family members of both Kassondra and our boy Sagein Wisdom. 

We’ve had some time to cry for these children, these lost relationships with our family members. We will carry on for each and everyone of them. I painted with a new apprentice last night who is also Anishanabe.   Before he came, he placed an offering and spirit feast on behalf of our family for the lost children in Kamloops, for those precious 215. He is living up that way and made the trip to come and learn more about this art form and the spiritual powers and energies contained in the practice of it. 

Pictured above along with the candle lights of 751 is my son Sagein smudging with shell, white buffalo sage and an eagle feather. My son is 3 years old and he is such a powerful spirit. He is the strongest yet most gentle loving medicine  I have ever known...he has the power to move mountains. With a strong resilience and spirit of self determination, we Anishanabe will walk in love strength and pride for them, for ourselves and our loved ones. We are the seeds they couldnt kill...we will live on for them. For us...

All my relations....MAJ

Active crime scene in Canada regarding crimes against humanity and genocide, new discovery of 751 children’s bodies...

I am truly at a loss for words today. I am beyond shocked, and absolutely horrified by this new discovery today. I feel so numb that I just wanna be left alone today. I feel so uncomfortable about this. I can’t even wrap my mind around it it’s just that ugly, dark and horrifying what this country Canada and their churches (Vatican) including their agents (the RCMP) are guilty of. 

This is clear evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity. An apology from the pope would be a fuckin insult at this point. Those criminals need to be held accountable for their crimes. They are murderers. All of them. This whole thing is an active crime scene. 

I can’t really say anything more at this point. I just feel devastated. To all our familes and children: I love you. I stand with you. I’ll do everything I can to continue to speak truth to power. For now, I will rest and pray. 

Here is an article by an old friend of mine named Tamara. We used to go to ceremonies and gatherings and would meet up and spend deep spiritual time in our culture. Much respects for all her work towards telling the truth about genocide, colonialism and decolonization. Please read it, she is super smart and tells it like I do. With honesty as her weapon of choice:

https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/reckoning-with-genocide-and-the-denialism-of-the-canadian-state

So far this is now the new body count: 

The pride and joy @ Jacobson native art 2021

 Good afternoon to each and everyone. Wishing you the highest good as we all continue to endure this pandemic and the many struggles that are happening for millions of people worldwide. I have been struggling myself a little around here at the studio lately. I’ve had some weird outside energy pop into my life that was quite frankly, discriminatory. 

It is still so unfortunate that the reality is that the cultural fabric of this country and how the approach must be made better and better each and every day with regard to the educational process regarding colonialism and genocide to our people as First Nations.

It blows my mind just how unaware and how unfortunately, the average Canadian citizen’s mind set is in this regard. It breaks my heart to see and at times experience the uneducated Colonial mind set in action. This “me first” approach and the basis of “money is king” with regard to the structures of the Canadian society hierarchy are becoming more glaring and distinct in that very structure. 

I see it as the greatest weakness that the cultural fabric of this country has. It’s embarrassing and I find it a bit “slow in the head and heart”. I have always been about people coming together for the greater good. It’s the foundation of who I am. The very basis of our culture is that we are a loving and welcoming people. But I find it very disturbing really to experience such a vastness of this across these lands. 

One can most definitely say that the multi generational plans of colonialism have done not only a serious number on us First Nations, but it is quite evident that the average Canadian citizen has been blindsided by the effects of this as well. The wheels of injustice and the horrific reality of this ongoing genocide to us in the 21st century should move every Canadian soul to wanna change. To make it right. 

This truth will always be my greatest wish. To see a vision of real true healing take shape and help to create that missing link that is in all of our hearts on some level: somewhere we have forgotten that we are all one. This is the reality that I try to live and teach my boy each and every day. That he is a vital and sacred part in all life. That all life is sacred, is to be honoured and respected. I know that I will continue to be a voice for not only this generation, but for many generations to come. My teachings are in my art. I am a culture creator, a visionary, a storyteller. 

The power and legacy of my culture has taught me that. There are those of us who come to realize just how powerful they are. For me I will never surrender my sovereignty as Anishanabe to anyone. My cultural path and identity will remain with me forever. I have found my way. My legacy is in the hands of my son now as well. My greatest wish and joy for him is to create his life experience in any way he so chooses. This is his power. But I will always desire for him to carry on the torch so to speak with regards to our cultural ways, teachings and understandings. 

For this shall always remain as our essence. That we are spectacular and immensely so beautiful. That our richness is in the magnificence of who we are. That together, we stand on great shoulders. From one generation to the next we are the change we have always been searching for. All my relations, MAJ