Honest message to Morrisseau art consulting, don’t be like the Goldi’s & risk it all to save a lie...

 

Pictured here: screen capture of Morrisseau art consulting, being run by former apprentice John Zemanovich and lawyer Jonathan Sommer Toronto Ont.

Good evening to each and everyone and thank you for all the love and support of these last few months. The woodland school of art is going through a major shift and transformation. The knowledge of Norval Morrisseau being exposed as a sexual abuser of children and of taking Sexual advantage of young homeless boys on the streets of Vancouver and elsewhere is a major dose of reality and truth coming forward. 

In the world of First Nations art here in this stolen country called Canada, this truth and awakening is absolutely heart shattering. Every day I struggle with this knowing. To digest just how fucking shocking it really is. It is heart wrenching as well because I had admired Morrisseau for years, most of my life. But the truth is just that, no matter how ugly, difficult, bitter and challenging to deal with, to confront and process, it must be done. The illusion must be exposed. The lies must be unravelled and the record must be set straight. We are in a different time now. The time of truth and reconciliation. This is about those who were hurt, sexually abused and raped by the predator, Norval Morrisseau.

My message to you John Zemanovich and Jonathan Sommer is: be careful. You don’t know to what extent this knowledge is. I know for a fact that Zemanovich knows about Norval sexually abusing one of his sons. We both were made aware of this but we simply didn’t know about how far down the scale this reality truly is. 

I’m glad that Kevin Hearn followed through with both Dallas and I saying that it was very ignorant and rude of you guys to put that cartoon caption shit on line and using it as advertising for your shitty consulting business of Morrisseau, the sexual abuser of children and his bullshit art, it was totally inappropriate. Also, you’ve made your move like dipshit Dingle of the spiritually bankrupt Norval Morrisseau estate, deleting my comments and blocking me from sharing this truth. It’s quite evident that denial is where you two piss ants wanna swim. It’s so weak of the both of you. Pathetic and I will not forget. That you side with a historic sexual abuser. Let that sink into your fuckin heads and heart. It’s super gross of you to not even acknowledge that or the victims/survivors. 

Don’t be stupid like the Estate or KRG,  like Maslak McLeod and the  Goldi’s, like Ugo Matulic, like Jim White, Gary Lamont and all those others who aligned themselves with a lie. Look what happened to them? They’ve lost more than just their credibility. I will tell you this: It’s a much different situation then dealing with the fraud. Denying this truth is choosing to live in the lie. You will be held accountable. Every move is being observed and watched. You are not in possession of this truth. But it’s coming. Trying to deny this is much like Canada in denial of the residential school children being murdered. Trying for decades to sweep that truth underneath the carpet. Trying to hide the truth, the truth of genocide against my people, against me. 

The same can be said of trying to hide and deny these historic sex crimes of the forever disgraced sexual abuser of children in Norval Morrisseau. I stand in absolute affirmation of everything I am sharing about this newly exposed reality. I have been honoured by living survivors who want to come forward and share their truth with the entire world. I stand in solidarity with them. 

More to come and all my relations, MAJ

Honest message to Jamie “Colonizer” Kastner of There are no fakes @ Jacobson native art

 

Good afternoon to each and everyone following the truth here at Jacobson native art. Today I’d like to officially comment on this bizarre reality of “Frankenstein” Jamie Kastner who was the worst person I’ve ever worked with in the entire film industry. What a complete moron this guy really is. Still trying to control the narrative eh weirdo?

This fucked up guy can never be trusted. He’s rude, obnoxious and an extreme example of self will run riot. It’s embarrassing watching this guy trying to take our stories and our truth as First Nations and trying to control it and make the narrative all about himself. Nobody likes you, Kastner, let’s get that straight. Everyone around the film thinks your a complete bozo....and you are. 

This fight with the OPP and Thunder Bay police makes you look ridiculous. These are not your stories to control. We willingly shared these truths throughout the film because it was simply the right thing to do. This had absolutely nothing to do with us trusting you. Your job was to simply help us tell this story. That’s it. But here you are splashing yourself all over the Canadian media in your diaper making this all about you. 

Yuck. Let’s get this straight ok settler. You need to cooperate with the investigation. You need to get out of the way and let justice serve it’s course. If the Canadian legal system needs those interviews to pursue the truth? Then get lost and go do something else. You look like a total fool getting in the way of all the hard work people like myself have done on that warped behalf of the fraud. Let justice happen and be a good little settler boy and get the fuck out of the way. This story isn’t about you. You embarrassed yourself and your family bloodline behaving the way that you do. 

It’s pathetic. You are not an ally with us First Nations. You are no friend to me and you shouldn’t be speaking about truth and reconciliation because you don’t know how that works. Your heart doesn’t have the knowledge. You lack the sensitivity and spirit. Also, nobody wanted to do a second follow up film with you because of how you are as a human being. You are lost in the abyss of colonialism. A broken ghost of the past. You are not in the here and now with us. Nobody from this wants to ever work with you again or collaborate with you in any way, shape or form. Go home and get lost. You are not wanted. (Maybe one day I’ll pity you and pray for you, but not today dipshit)

There will be more to come concerning the sexual abuse by Norval Morrisseau and his filthy and fucked up legacy of lies. The truth is coming like a freight train...all my relations, MAJ

Charges laid in decades long art fraud investigation into the art and legacy of the now disgraced Norval Morrisseau

 

Video: OPP and Thunder Bay police Art fraud investigation results

Good afternoon and once again this is just a quick and short post about the art fraud investigations regarding now discovered sexual predator and child abuser in Norval Morrisseau. There will be much more to come regarding these new allegations. This whole thing has been a constant cesspool of newly discovered truths about the once iconic and former mentor in Morrisseau.  It’s devastating to me but what lays ahead regarding exposing this is far more important. 

I send a shout out to APTN national news for quoting me and sharing my truth in this story. Have yourselves a safe weekend and I look forward to bringing you the final chapter in my Morrisseau investigations. All my relations, MAJ 

The deceptions and betrayal of a former apprentice in John Zemanovich @ Jacobson native art

As Norval would so often say, may the blessings be. So, I’ll begin by explaining how John Zemanovich found me and became my apprentice for over 10 years in the woodland school of art. I’ll also explain our involvement in the investigations of the Norval Morrisseau art fraud. At the end of the day, he did become my right hand man. But then over time, things began to change. 

I first met this guy around 2006 - 2007. He came to me through an email asking questions about the art fraud regarding Norval Morrisseau. He came to me as a fraud, as a fake identity in his former inter net name of raven Thunderbird. A made up name he gave himself to protect his real identity in John Zemanovich. The audacity of this small time Morrisseau researcher even had the nerve of suspecting me as a forger knowing that I was a great artist and all. 

Because he came to me as a liar, I felt the need to correct him which of course, I did. I told him right off the hop that he’d better straighten his bullshit out and make the approach with me through being honest and transparent. Something he recognized that if he wanted to be my friend, he would have to make some serious adjustments. 

The problems I discovered when I began to learn more about him were indeed, plenty. He was the one who before meeting me, was working with the Morrisseau children and was the brainchild behind the concept of the Morrisseau family foundation. It was John Zemanovich who created that. He was working with the kids and jim white around the time when we first met. Then he was working with gabe and michelle Vadas of the Norval Morrisseau estate. (Minus the Morrisseau children at that time)

Pictured above: John Zemanovich and Gabe Vadas with me in Nanaimo B.C. This is what betrayal looks like, pretend friends they were.

When I began to learn more about him I discovered that underneath the exterior of this raven Thunderbird false name and identity was a broken, weak and fragile soul. He knew nothing of his true First Nations identity. He didn’t even know how to hold a paint brush let alone how to stand as an indigenous man in this world we live in. I brought him that. During my time with him under my wing as a new apprentice I brought him to my home town of Sioux Lookout Ontario. He sat with my family and uncles who are all medicine men around our family drum. 

It was there that he began to find himself. We gave him his “indian name” we gave him his clan and he was gifted a Thunderbird pipe. This event helped to put the pieces together for him much better as now he was identified in the spirit world, the ancestors could truly recognize him now, he could know himself better as an Indian. But over time, his loyalty began to shift and change. He began to fall into the shadows once again with his self deceptions and what began to manifest as a drug problem with regards to his pain medication. 

But it was in the practice of the art form itself that would help to stabilize and give hope to his real identity and sense of self. Once again, I brought him that. He had zero experience and confidence as a new artist. But in working with me, I definitely helped to encourage and strengthen that part of his development as an artist. Nobody else could at this point. It took my power and energy and belief in him to push him forward in this new and exciting direction. 

Pictured above: 2 examples of early works by John Zemanovich. Painting of me on the left, a painting of Gabe Vadas on the right

During this time we worked together, comforted one another, learned from each other, became good friends and embarked upon our journey as master artist in myself and as a new apprentice to me in John Zemanovich. We continued our investigations around the fraud of Norval Morrisseau and supported one another as best we could as we discovered the rest of the pieces of this Morrisseau puzzle. 

Pictured above: 2 examples of works I did with my former apprentice in John Zemanovich 

During the tail end of our investigations John was working closely with jonathan sommer and kevin hearn. He befriended them and during that course John was specifically instructed by this small time lawyer not to converse with me about some of the information around the art fraud investigation. I was offended by that. The only victory these idiots would ever know was what I brought to the table regarding Thunder Bay, Gary lamont, Dallas Thompson, Tim Tait, and the truth of those Morrisseau children being heavily involved in the fraud of their father, Norval Morrisseau. 

None of that happened on their own accord. Remember that at this time Jonathan Sommer was losing every single court case he was up against. I mean, the other side really had this guys number. He was beaten numerous times in court because quite frankly, the Ontario court system was an utter failure including all police forces across this country. Nobody could solve this at the time. Fuckin nobody.

In reality, I put that together and the entire team at the time knew this. Although they’ve all had a difficult time in acknowledging that. Mostly because of their own inept capacity to truly get anything done. I understood though that this thing was bigger than any of us, personally. The amount of people involved in these discoveries is quite staggering. Yet none of them could get the job done. Over these last few years I’ve watched those mentioned above trying to control this narrative including that douche bag director in Jamie kastner, a real dirty snake in the Canadian film industry, a true rat.

Poster for movie created and painted by: John Zemanovich 

It was during this time around the film of “There are no fakes” that we all began to go our individual ways. I took a break for the last 4 years. All the betrayal, lies and bullshit around this movie was truly the tipping point for me to walk away. I had simply had enough of the stupidity around Norval Morrisseau’s legacy.

The friendship between John Zemanovich and I began to fade away. I had borrowed some money from him on the condition that we would arrange to pay it off through the sales of some of my paintings. This was when he decided to open his new gallery with his OPP police officer wife in Kimm Horne, another soul who impatiently betrayed me at their new gallery found here at: https://ravenartcanada.com/

During this sequence of events I discovered that while they didn’t want to solve the problem with me because of their financial reasonings, they chose to sell the paintings I gave them worth thousands and thousands of dollars. They essentially “sold me out”. They had promised to make me their number one artist, etc and ended up betraying me instead. After everything I did for them and more importantly for John Zemanovich, he ended up selling me out and tossing our friendship to the curb. 

Recently I tried to reach out to make a reconnection and hopefully amend the situation between us but I got nothing. Just a cold and dead response. Oh well, that is their choice, that is their weakness. Sometimes I feel like I let that happen to me when I deserved better, especially after everything I did to help that man and his family come to terms with their “indianess”. 

Pictured above: a Morrisseau replica of Pisces princess. Painted by John Zemanovich 

I challenged John Zemanovich to paint this painting as he thought he could never do it. He gave it to me as my apprentice. I thought about throwing away this painting in the garbage since our falling out but my new apprentice said to keep it. Let it be a reminder to you on what betrayal looks like. That it can come to you in friendship, in apprenticeship and it can look real pretty and all as well. 

In the end, I made this guy not only a better person but a better artist. I put some real love, energy and power into him and he forgot where he came from. Remember, he first came to me as a liar, a cheat. He carried multiple identities like raven Thunderbird, John Christopher and now as the exposed John Zemanovich. 

Maybe one day he will return as to who he really is, white Thunderbird man, the name my family and relatives gave him that day as he sat with us at our 8 Thunderbird family drum, receiving his true identity from true Indians who brought him into the light of who he really is. But he walked away from that as well. What a sad and cold world he lives in. I feel sorry for him and his family. 

I will always wish you the best John. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. I hope that the addiction you are struggling with will some day be solved for you. May your heart and soul find the warmth and love it deserves. May the Creator continue to help you along this journey of life. All my relations....MAJ

Mark Anthony Jacobson native art & my experiences around the Norval Morrisseau film: There are no fakes

 Good afternoon to each and everyone who continues to find my new site here at Jacobson native art. It has been a few moons since the release of this film and as executive producer of, I have some things I want to share about it now. First off, I’m glad that we had the opportunity to tell this story through film and to reach out to many new people as the direct result. It was always a powerful story that needed to be told and shared. 

I first met Norval Morrisseau in 2005 in Nanaimo B.C. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. At this point I had been working and mastering the woodland art form for 20 years exactly. It was a brilliant meeting for the both of us. At that point, Norval was confined to his wheelchair and was struggling with Parkinson’s disease. He never had dementia as it was falsely reported by the likes of those shady websites in the Norval Morrisseau blog and the hoax exposed blogs. Both heavily involved in trying to make fakes, authentic. 

It was at that time during my visits with Norval that I began to be educated by him about the grave nature of this problem. I was shown dozens and dozens of examples both in catalogues and the Internet by Norval, Gabe and Michelle Vadas. Norval himself had asked me to help him. He had specifically invited me into this realm because he knew that I would help. And I have. Without a shadow of doubt, I made all the moves necessary to have found the results I did by the production of this film. 

Look, the truth is that none of this would have happened, if it wasn’t for a serendipitous meeting between Dallas and I. Exposing the truth about these fakes, the fraud ring in Thunder Bay ont, exposing a serial rapist and getting him convicted on multiple counts, Justice and vindication for not only Norval Morrisseau, the sexual assault survivors, for kevin hearn and his lawyer in Jonathan Sommer, but also the estate of Morrisseau and countless collectors, galleries, museums and institutions. 

Same can be said for everyone else who attached their name to this movie. By the time the film came out last year, I had spent nearly 15 years of my life on this. It definitely ranks as one of the worst experiences I have ever gone through in my entire life. The amount of filth, disgust, brokenness, horrifying truths, lies and deceptions, threats, intimidation, betrayal and let down was absolutely over the top. 

And this was on both sides of the coin, the bad guys and the good. The reality is that unfortunately this film brought out the worst in many people tied to it. Including myself at times. The level of mistaking friendship and trust throughout this ordeal was really the backbone for me saying: “FUCK THIS“ to everyone associated with this film, excluding both Dallas and Kevin Hearn. Because they were the only 2 solid people that remained until the very end. Even in that, I took a break from them as well. I needed it, we all kinda needed it. 

Many souls around the world have now had a chance to see this film. This is a good thing. Although it has been a very deep and painful experience, I hope one day to see even further results of all the efforts and work that was done and continues to be done as the result of this dedicated service that a few of us put together. It was the fraud of Norval Morrisseau that had first brought me into this scenario. I knew the task ahead of me was quite monumental. Nor Norval himself, neither gabe or michelle, nor Ritchie Sinclair or bryant ross, not kevin hearn or any lawyers before hand could fix this. 

Not the likes of KRG, not the NMHS, no institution or even any police force across Canada knew the depth of this rabbit hole. It was when the information about rape, violence, drugs and assaults that had came forward through Dallas and I sharing our experiences that the truth became known. It was then around 2011 that this entire focus shifted from art fraud to the rape and crimes of a serial sexual predator who was discovered as the suspected head of this Norval Morrisseau art fraud ring, deep in the heart of Thunder Bay, ont. 

I was flown to Toronto for the opening of this film last year. I have to say that I was appalled at the level of disrespect and disgusting attitudes of the director of this film in Jamie Kastner. I always felt that since meeting him there was something “not right” about him. He shamed me for bringing my family to the movie premiere saying he only wanted me there, and not my family. He called me a 2 bit hustler when I wanted to share my art and culture during the after party of the premiere. 

I brought my paintings and such to add to the event, to be a blessing of indigenous culture and sharing the strength and power of my art. To support all the efforts in regards to saving the lives of countless victims and of the art and legacy of my friend and mentor in Norval Morrisseau. That the circle is strong with what I bring to the table. I told Jamie Kastner where to go, and educated this Frankenstein colonized mindset of his that most people in my circles buddy would consider me a hero for getting involved in this story in the ways that I did. 

But this piece of garbage in Kastner tried to belittle me and my integrity as someone who was and is so intimately involved with really opening up this whole story. It left such a bad taste in my heart and the fact that people like Kastner are peppered all over the Canadian film industry. It really grossed me out and because of assholes like him I had to step back and really process all these events in their true light. I think I’ve done that and during this time of healing my heart and soul through this, I’ve found a place now within where I can actually tell my side of this story. 

Some how in all this, I got left out. They didn’t give me any interviews, They feared me and so they went to any and all lengths to try and control this narrative. At the end of the day, I let them. I gave up trying to be heard because I suppose there were those who desired that spotlight for themselves. Nevermind this Indian in me. I didn’t look the part I suppose. They couldn’t control me. So they acted out of fear. At this stage of the game, I don’t really care about it so much any more. More will be revealed...this story isn’t over.

The black dry brush fakes are only one wave. There are several waves of fake Norval Morrisseau paintings and prints peppered all over the Internet like ebay, kigigi, auction houses, shady galleries and their dealers. Prominent Canadian art galleries have been selling dozens and dozens of these suspected second, third, fourth and fifth waves etc. of different fakes other than the now common and distinct black dry brush fakes. 

The above 4th photo here shows one of these fraudulent waves of fake Norval Morrisseau paintings. This particular forgery is very distinct from those black dry brush abominations, (Norvals exact words for them). This period came before the black dry brush, actually. This particular wave is sourced from the Yorkville gallery district in the heart of downtown Toronto. This wave came in the late 1980’s all throughout the 1990’s and even into the 2000’s. 

I know who this forger is. I contacted him on line, twice. Once 10 years ago and recently about 3 months ago. I told him that I suspect it’s you....chief. I’ve studied his weak originals and have compared his personal techniques in his own woodland art style and then I’ve compared those techniques to this example and several others and indeed in my professional opinion and experience, it’s the same fuckin artist. I know it, he knows it and we’ll see if the police across this country can see it too. 

It will never be a complete investigation if the other waves of the Norval Morrisseau fakes don’t get dealt with. It’s a funny thing with true experience and understanding. Ive been given an inside view of the world of art forgery because of my friendship with Norval Morrisseau. I am regarded as one of the true living masters of this style of indigenous art called the woodland school. It is an honour for me to keep pushing it forward, in my style and in my techniques.

 I know that somewhere in this universe, the spirits look upon me and smile. I know that indeed my friend and mentor in Norval Morrisseau after all of this looks upon me and smiles too. Knowing full well that I did my duty. I took it all to task. I did my part in helping to set the record straight. At the end of the day I want it to always be known that I did this all for free, from my heart because I always believed it was the right thing to do. I did it for love...for the love of my people. The great Anishanabe.

All my relations, Mark Anthony Jacobson - Rainbow Thunderbird