Good afternoon to each and everyone today. It’s been a wild ride watching this “Freedom convoy” and this cause and effect process that is unfolding. From an indigenous lense it gives me a perspective that I’m very familiar with as a First Nations soul. I hear the term “occupier” and I think to myself, hmmmmm, I know exactly what that looks like. They were being first identified as peaceful protestors, ordinary Canadians seeking to stand up for their “rights and freedoms” within the framework of the Canadian constitution.
JACOBSON NATIVE ART GALLERY
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Exposing the hidden truth between the freedom convoy and that pimp of a Prime minister
Good afternoon to each and everyone today. It’s been a wild ride watching this “Freedom convoy” and this cause and effect process that is unfolding. From an indigenous lense it gives me a perspective that I’m very familiar with as a First Nations soul. I hear the term “occupier” and I think to myself, hmmmmm, I know exactly what that looks like. They were being first identified as peaceful protestors, ordinary Canadians seeking to stand up for their “rights and freedoms” within the framework of the Canadian constitution.
Saturday, February 12, 2022
The only 2 souls who remained loyal to me throughout my investigations into the Norval Morrisseau art fraud
When he disclosed to me what was going on in Thunder Bay with what took place at Gary Lamont’s, it was the most devastating truth that was being uncovered by my brother. The nights he would call me at 2 am in the morning, talking to 5 am about all the events that took place was utterly fuckin soul crushing. I would listen to him break down the events that happened to him and we would both cry. The amount of pain and suffering that was endured would take super human strength to deal with, day in and day out. It’s one of the main reasons why I look up to this guy. Not only did he become the first one to opening the door to charging and getting Gary lamont arrested with 23 counts of sexual assault, forcible confinement, death threats, assault with a weapon etc, he also opened the door for us to work with the other survivors.
This was the real team effort. You have to remember that before these crucial moves that took place, the RCMP, the other police forces, the Norval Morrisseau estate, academia including the lawyer Jonathan Sommer, they had nothing. They were all being beat by the lies being believed in Ontario superior court. The Canadian rule of law had made these fake paintings, real. This is obviously another reason as to why I have little faith in the rule of law. As an indian in Canada, the way they bend and twist it to serve their own needs is fucked up and seriously discouraging. So I did what my ancestors inspired me to do and that’s go forward in this whole mess with indian law, our cultural laws and teachings.
It was status Indians who brought light to the severity of these atrocities first. The serial rapist in Gary Lamont needed to be stopped. It had way more fuckin priority than the fraud. That’s what nobody could figure out including the police. They knew some things but couldn’t find a way to get their man in Lamont. We did that. Dallas Thompson and I. There was no Norval Morrisseau estate there. There were no OPP officers there. No Ontario superior court, No detectives. no academics, no NMHS, No KRG, no Ritchie Sinclair, no John Zemanovich, no Jonathan Sommer, no Coghlan art....not one of them. It took the courage and determination of both Dallas and I to get the ball rolling. From here, everything and everyone got to jump on board. Make no mistake about that. These are the facts. Even though many have tried to control this narrative and spin it in their favour. This is the reality.
This guy here is Kevin Hearn. He too saw this thing all the way through. He never betrayed me or turned his back on me, even today. The amount of appreciation and respect I have for him is phenomenal. He stood up to these fraud bastards as well and committed to the process of uncovering, discovering and recovering justice. Not only for Norval Morrisseau’s legacy, but more importantly, for our friend in Dallas. For me, he’s also a hero like Dallas. What Kevin was able to contribute in regards to support, dedication, faith and trust, belief in us, and unwavering resolve is simply amazing.
He is a true soul. He never abandoned Dallas and I. He has stayed the course even now. Like his friend in Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, they have learned the secret path. The door that opens to us and our world. As hard as that is for some to enter, Kevin Hearn is a true spirit, a genuine human being who cared enough to help set this record straight. For Canadians and First Nations alike so that hopefully we can continue on this path, the path to truth and reconciliation. More to come and more to be revealed, Im certainly not done with many of you yet. With respect and appreciation...all my relations, MAJ
Thursday, February 10, 2022
The house of Jacobson - Honouring the life and death of my father and sister
Just reflecting tonight here in the studio on two of the most important souls of my family who have left this world. It would’ve been by dad’s birthday so happy birthday to you and sending love to my forever adored sister in Angie Jacobson. Mother to 2 beautiful souls...any how, I love you always and forever.
This is for you both. From me to you in the spirit world:
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Exposing the lies of the Norval Morrisseau estate part: 3 (The fraud behind the fraud)
Picking up from where we left off with regards to exposing the crimes, lies and bullshit of the Norval Morrisseau estate we are going to enter new territory surrounding this whole empire of darkness. So, here it is for the first time being exposed publicly is an actual photo of Gabe Vadas working on and painting Norval Morrisseau art. This big fat secret has been incubating in the Canadian art scene for years. Nobody really knew how involved both Gabe and Michelle were as Morrisseau’s “caregivers” but here is the true reality.
I suspected early on that there was way more to: “more than meets the eye” with these two. For one thing they most certainly underestimated me and my level of knowledge and understanding. I’m sure they’ll try to spin it as....”every great artist has apprentices” and helpers. True, but not all apprentices and helpers are suspected of finishing off hundreds and hundreds of paintings. Putting into question not only who actually painted these things but more importantly the validity of authenticity concerning the majority of most of these works being created throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s.
Ever since I got involved with my investigations regarding this fraud and studying Morrisseau and his techniques and applications I could notice a dramatic shift in the actual style of his works in the 1990’s especially. The forms changed, the work became more childish rather than childlike. The people forms had shifted into little mini “Elvis looking Indians” with sideburns and all. Way less detailing and inlay work. Very novice like. Yes Norval was suffering from Parkinson’s at the time, yes he suffered miserably with that stroke. It took the majority of his skills away. Thus the need for extra more reliable and sturdy hands.
Never once have they ever come out publicly to announce these truths. Never once have they ever admitted to being Norval Morrisseau’s artistic apprentices. But here it is. You have to ask yourself why all the secrecy? Why keep this hidden from the public? I’ll tell you why: MONEY. That is the underlying reason why. It would be much more difficult to actually get the Canadian art buying public to spend thousands of dollars on this art if it was known that they were being primarily created and manufactured by you guessed it? White settlers. Lol. Precisely why they needed to keep quiet about this. Imagine that huh? Spending thousands and thousands of dollars on a Morrisseau sourced painting being sold through you guessed it? Norvals primary dealer in Kinsmen Robinson gallery out of Toronto Ont. All throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s, hundreds of works of art. Never once stating that many of these paintings being worked on and finished by both Gabe and Michelle Vadas of the Norval Morrisseau estate.
With Norval being as sick as he was back then, the tremors and shakes were getting too difficult for the master to paint. He needed reliable helpers each and everyday and he had them in Gabe and Michelle. It’s the pink elephant in the room. The shit that got swept underneath the carpet. The real truth that has escaped the world of Norval Morrisseau art. I also have to say that I’ve seen them with my own eyes being very capable artists in their own right. Upon my visits to Nanaimo I would hang out and stay the weekend many times during my visits. They got so comfortable with me that they wanted to impress me. On two separate occasions I watched Gabe draw out a Thunderbird design on a drum in 15 seconds. The drawing was well balanced, a bit immature in design but effective. It could pass the eyes of everyone at KRG. On another occasion it was Michelle’s turn to show me what she could do. She did an amazing drawing on paper of Norval Morrisseau art within 20 minutes. I was impressed. That they could draw and sketch out these designs just like Norval.
You have to have a masters eye to see it, to put it all together. Couple that with my experience in seeing them actually produce the artform out of thin air like that gave me all the insight I needed to form this perspective. Because none of them including those dysfunctional liars over at KRG who couldn’t authenticate the difference between a plastic bag and a paper one, this gives credence to the reality that all those paintings being sourced from Kinsmen Robinson galleries all throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s are suspect of being executed by white settlers. A young art student working at an art supply store in Michelle and the gay street kid from Hungary Europe. in Gabor Vadas.
As a concerned consumer who is spending in the tens of thousands of dollars and in some cases like Westerkirk works of art, (spending millions) you bet I’d want to know pertinent information like that. I would want to know all those details so that I could make a better and more Informed decision on my investments. This is a major problem in the art world, to be truthful, it is a world of rattlesnakes, tap dancers and chronic bullshitters....mostly. For me, I truly believe that this is the main reason why they have been hiding in the darkness. Afraid of the discovery of the truth that lays in their hearts each and every day. It’s the fraud behind the fraud and as a First Nations soul who is really the gatekeeper of truth in our woodland school of art, these white settlers need to pipe up and tell the truth.
Don’t be afraid to expose your truth around this. I seen it with my own eyes. And now so has the world. You need to be responsible and shed the light on this for future generations. So that they know what is authentic Anishanabe art and what was created by white settlers. You owe this to our children...you owe it to tell the truth. To set the record straight.
All my relations, MAJ
Monday, February 7, 2022
Disclosure of some personal revelations of truth here @ Jacobson native art
Good morning to each and everyone and I have been in a deep place of transformation ever since I left Vancouver in 2017 and headed out to the Kootenay mountains. The reality of the vastness of space, power and quiet inspiration out here has absolutely changed my point of view and perceptions about many things. I’ve had tons of time out here to reflect on the cultural fabric of this country, the realities of surviving genocide, being a 60’s scoop survivor, escaping death, battling the disease of alcoholism (been sober now for over 23 years and counting).
Being heavily involved in the rebirthing of myself as a true Anishanabe soul, sovereign from Canada and the Queen of England, truly. My identity as a real version of a freeman on my land. I am governed by the Creator first, my ancestry, 7 sacred grandfather teachings and the experience in who I am in relation to this and through my own lense. As much as the occupier in Canada and their so-called rule of law which is founded on genocide in actuality, I am free to live my life governed by these principles which supersede the rule of law. These are universal source codes in reality. Applicable to all human beings. This is a spiritual perspective that really shows the way to what real freedom is for us Anishanabe. I know Canada doesn’t want me to see this truth for me and my people, but sorry to say to them, it is our ways which must come first. This is what you have tried to kill in me. This is what you have tried to strip from me, my voice, my truth, my identity, my power.
The real truth of my real fight has been in establishing who I really am. My own views and experiences throughout my life and telling it truthfully, no sugar coating, raw and real from a true First Nations and indigenous lense. This is my voice speaking up, speaking truth to power. Exposing these crimes against humanity and pointing my arrows where they ought to be pointed. I’m absolutely fuckin disgusted to tell you the truth and I make no bones about my dissatisfaction with my abuser in Canada. This country owes us trillions and trillions of dollars, let alone all the land and resource thefts, cultural artifacts being stolen, etc. It’s so gross about how the majority of white settlers don’t even know the real history of how this country came to be. What a disgrace to the fallen...many of them had no fuckin clue either that they were all that deceived. But these residential school children are showing us some things that this country has tried to deny and tuck away into the past, somewhere non existent.
But they speak and speak they will continue to do. I too will continue to speak and to tell it as it is. Unfiltered much like the Canadian media cannot do because of how fucked up that whole industry truly is. Mostly parasites and maggots feasting on the pain and misery of others who get paid for that. I don’t get paid by anyone here. Only by the truth do I get to see more and get paid. It’s more of a spiritual thing for me seeing things on the upper plains, middle plains and lower plains. Laws of spirit. Other than this, I don’t give a shit about Canadian media at all. Most of it is pretty useless information and at the end of the day, I don’t need any of it. I am my own media. I am the truth of my experience. My lense is purely from an indigenous point of view. It’s as simple as that..
The same can be said of being recognized by this country for all the good I’ve done concerning the reality of getting directly involved in saving the lives of numerous sexual assault victims, helping to facilitate justice for them by getting their abuser arrested, charged and put into a federal penitentiary for 5 years. I know, not nearly enough time as he has always been not only the chief suspect of this Morrisseau art fraud, but he is also the main suspect of the murder of Scott Dove in Thunder Bay back in 1984. It’s still an unsolved murder, even now. These guys have been wanting to deal with Gary Lamont up there for years, but it took Indians to get the job done. Even up until this very day nobody from Thunder Bay never thanked me for getting involved in not only saving the lives of these victims/survivors and helping to remove a serial rapist from their streets. Not once...Sunday, February 6, 2022
Exposing the crimes of the Norval Morrisseau estate part 2: (The betrayal of Norval’s children)
This is another chapter in this Morrisseau mess that needs to be exposed. The deceptions are wide and plenty with this principle fraudster in Norval Morrisseau’s own son in Christian Morrisseau. A criminal cheat who thought he could pull the wool over our eyes by siding up with this criminal enterprise for the sake of the almighty dollar.
His whole act is a complete sham. Fuelled by his deep resentment and anger he actually went to any lengths to scam the Canadian public and the world of native art, the woodland school in particular. This video makes me wanna barf every single time I watch it. I feel sorry for the soul of Norval Morrisseau. That it ended up being this during the last couple years of his life.
Betrayed by his own family, his brother in Wolf Morrisseau, his children and most importantly, the one who did the most damage to Norval, his own son in Christian Judas Morrisseau. This arsehole is responsible for literally what is now millions of dollars in sold fraudulent Norval Morrisseau fakes. All being peppered throughout the Internet and sold through shady galleries, websites, auction houses, eBay, kijiji, Walmart and the Bay.
Not only has this filthy bastard betrayed his father, he betrayed our ancestors. He betrayed all First Nations and Canadians alike. He betrayed all of the children, institutions and schools where kids learn about our culture and arts, he betrayed all of us artists and he betrayed all those who would learn and be inspired by the woodland school of art. This is why when you go down, your apology will mean nothing to me. You should be spending the rest of your life cleaning up this pile of shit you created. You owe a lifetime of amends. It’s that fuckin filthy, bad and utterly disgusting.
Here’s the video of absolute betrayal of not only their father, but an elder, an old man nearing the end of his life:
P.S: Fuck the goldi’s @ hoax exposed. But thanks for the video dipshits!
Saturday, February 5, 2022
Exposing the truth around the Norval Morrisseau estate part 1: Gabe Vadas and the children
It’s amazing how things work in life and I’ll always be grateful for the truth because it guides me daily through this crazy world we all live in. It’s quite disappointing how the Norval Morrisseau estate try’s to paint people and how they have been absolutely guilty of gross negligence in protecting our culture as First Nations and Canadians alike. So I feel it’s important to get the facts out so that it is absolutely fuckin crystal clear about how the Norval Morrisseau estate sees me and my knowledge of this art fraud investigation.
This email was sent to the RCMP back in 2010 regarding my expertise in Norval Morrisseau art. It should be clear that obviously my knowledge and expertise has significantly grown since then but I want it completely understood for the sake of history around this and as Norval would so often say, For the record:
Excerpt from the estate of Norval Morrisseau email to the RCMP:
This should help to clear up the air because I find it completely disrespectful when I hear asswipes like Gabe Vadas talking smack about me. You know, I hate to say it but I was warned about Gabe Vadas being a snake time and time again and sure enough the reality is that he has proven himself to be untrustworthy. So, now it’s time to share some things I learned of the so-called head of the Norval Morrisseau estate.
Let’s get into the details of my discovery around this investigation.
#1: The reality in 2022 is that the estate of Norval Morrisseau including the children is fraught with alcoholism and addiction issues. There are serious concerns of mental health and stability for many of Norval Morrisseau’s children including his so-called adopted son in Gabe Vadas. With the many photos found on line with smoking crack, drinking, partying, posing with numerous fake paintings attributed to dear old dad, there is tons of evidence of this reality and it makes for a super unstable energy concerning the reliability of the estate.
#2: Once again here in 2022 concerning these fake black drybrush Morrisseau’s the questions surrounding these statements by the estate of Norval Morrisseau have not been addressed. Here’s the position of Morrisseau’s children and family: (current estate of Morrisseau)
L Time to Re-build the Legacy
For too long we have stayed silent as our father's legacy has been diminished by those with personal agendas.The internet is overwhelming with opinions on the work of Norval Morrisseau, some are well presented, others obviously biased and at least one that hides behind "anonymous', making personal attacks that have little to do with the issue, and simply reveals the character of the person behind it.
We have come to realize that we have a responsibility to our father, and to the many collectors that have acquired in good faith, works by Norval Morrisseau.
Like everyone we have our opinions, however we are able to give you facts, simple undeniable facts that go to the heart of the issue.
Quite simply, you, the public are being lied to.
On August 28/ 2008, after Norval Morrisseau passed away, it was indicated by Kinsman Robinson on their blog that Norval Morrisseau never signed the back of his paintings using black acrylic paint.
Our statements are facts, we were there.
Although Norval spent long periods of time away from his family, we have years of experience in watching our father paint and sign his paintings.
My name is Victoria Kakegamic. I am the eldest of Norval's children. I watched my father paint many, many times. I've seen him sign the back of his paintings with black paint, often using his finger to do so.
My name is Pierre Morrisseau. I am the third eldest of Norval's children. One time, as I watched my father paint, he looked for a pencil to sign the back of his painting but could not find one. I told him to use his pinky finger, and he did. I did see him use his finger and black paint to sign the back of his paintings.
My name is David Morrisseau. I am the eldest son of Norval and I am a painter myself. I was inspired and taught by my father. I spent summers in Winnipeg with my father watching and learning. During the times I was with my father I watched him sign the back of his paintings with pen, pencil, markers, but mostly with black acrylic paint.
My Name is Christian Morrisseau, son of Norval Morrisseau and like my brother David, I am a painter. My father showed me the techniques required in 2001 when he was with his family in Thunderbay. I also witnessed my father sign the back of his paintings with whatever was at hand. Most often it was with black acrylic paint.
My name is Wilfred (Wolf) Morrisseau. From 1975 until the late 1980's I lived for extensive periods with my brother Norval. I was his caregiver, his manager, his helper, whatever was required at the time. I have seen my brother paint hundreds if not thousands of images. Like other family members I saw Norval sign the back with a variety of instruments, but mostly with black acrylic paint. Rarely, due to having so many paintings in progress, the odd piece may not get signed. The dates and titles were also important to my brother. Jack Pollack, his first representative had strongly suggested that he sign and title the back for future references.
The last statement is by Marlowe Goring, a gallery operator. Although not a member of the family his direct knowledge of Norval's signatures is important.
Others are also prepared to make similar comments, however we stand by our statements as simple truths from having being there.
Realize that those telling you this lie, did not know Norval in the 70's and 80's. Kinsman Robinson became his representative in 1990, after the bulk of his best work was done. Should you have a Norval Morrisseau painting without a signature there are several reputable galleries that can authenticate it for you.
Should you have a Norval Morrisseau painting signed on the back, the same applies, however it is reassuring to note that some 15-20 paintings, signed on the back with acrylic black paint have been examined by Canada's leading forensic examiners, and all were concluded to be signed by Norval Morrisseau.
We apologize for the delay in speaking out, and we hope the truth will allow you to have confidence in our fathers paintings. After all there has never been a proven fake.
The only case of an alleged fake being challenged in court resulted in Gabe Vadas being unable to prove the painting fake and paying the plaintiff $10,000 plus costs.
The painting was signed on the back in black acrylic paint.
Monday, January 31, 2022
New updates in the Norval Morrisseau art fraud investigation @ Jacobson native art
Good evening to each and everyone who continues to find me here @ Jacobson native art. I have been quite busy around the studio and was recently catching up on some new information on the art fraud investigations regarding the art and legacy of my friend in Norval Morrisseau. It is absolutely appalling that here in 2022, the crimes continue to move forward and this white settler colonial disease of trying to make fake paintings some how authentic has to stop.
It’s getting so out of hand that one begins to wonder what is exactly going on with this Thunder Bay police investigation. Currently you can find these bastard fake paintings all over the Internet. They are peppered all over ebay, kijiji, numerous Canadian art galleries, Walmart and even the Bay. It’s beyond pathetic how the police are handling this investigation. Let’s reveal some new information on the matter at hand.
Well, well, well, look at what we got here. That piece of shit serial rapist in Gary Lamont who is the main suspect of this fraud ring just got arrested yet again for sexual assault with a weapon. This happened on January 11th, 2022. He just finished doing almost 6 years for sexual assault and being convicted as one of the most disgusting serial rapists out of the Thunder Bay Area. Here he is being plastered all over the news in the area for reoffending yet again.
Here is the link to the new video of his arrest: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/tbt-news-stories/video-gary-lamont-arrested-by-thunder-bay-police-4945275Sunday, January 23, 2022
Celebrating the successful launch of our new Facebook group @ Jacobson native art
I also wanted to do this group as another resource for what I do and to share information on actual facts with regard to my price list, previous sales etc. The market is very important to me and keeping my prices moving higher and higher takes diligence, dedication and being firm on those realities. The secondary market is a roll of the dice at best and most clients, galleries, auction houses and their websites don’t always have a resource for actual price points.
This group is a way for me to establish that on the secondary market primarily. All galleries I deal with across Canada and beyond are in alignment with the current 2021/2022 price list. This can be found in this new group. Also all the details on how to go about commissioning a painting is all written out for you as well. The feedback and energy has been fantastic and we are off to a great new start over there.
Enjoy yourselves and please feel free to join the group and get involved. Your comments, questions and feedback is very much welcomed and I look forward to personally connecting with you there as well. Once again I wanted to express all my gratitude for those of you who are loyal to me and my art. I love you for that and it inspires me to be a better version of myself each and every day.
All my relations, MAJ
New link to my Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/234007275421606/?ref=share
Saturday, January 22, 2022
Living deep in the heart of Mother Earth and enjoying our life @ Jacobson native art
Good morning to each and everyone who continues to find me here @ Jacobson native art. I hope you are all dealing with the winter season as best as you all can. Up here in the mountains it gets pretty wild with the amount of snow that can happen within 24 hours. I’m grateful for my ATV and snow plow. It gets super tough moving the amount of snow with just a shovel. You need a machine to help you with that out here.
I had a wonderful day with my son the other day and got to take him up the mountain to visit a friend of mine and spend some time doing some surveying of the land. My boy got to experience binoculars for the very first time and these were high powered and he instantly fell in love with them. He was super excited to get to see across the lake and check out the mountains and forests across kootenay lake.
For me these are the best days of my life. My son is always beaming with joy and is full of excitement and energy every time we get a chance to go exploring. I take him quading as well and the smiles he gives me when we are riding together is absolutely priceless. His happiness and joy is mine as well. We are a team out here sharing the best of what nature spirit has to offer.
It’s a big change from living in Vancouver but for the last 5 years of being out here deep in the Kootenay mountains, it is definitely the best decision for not only my son but for me as well. The space and freedom out here is timeless. It is such a rich and diverse energy and to be raising my boy in all this Mother Nature splendour is truly the best time of my life. My boy is my everything. He is the future of Jacobson native art.
All my relations, MAJ
Here’s a cool track that my boy and I like by SDK, track title: What they want
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Proud to announce that the new 2022 design with Sea Gods and Jacobson native art is ready for release
A special shout out to those at Sea Gods for the new 2022 release of our first design in a series with regard to the paddle board industry. This is the first of its kind and this unique partnership between us has inspired this new release titled: The spirit of white rock. We are honoured and excited to be sharing our cultural energy and powers working together in the spirit of truth and reconciliation.
Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Digging ourselves out of 6 to 8 feet of snow in the last 72 hours @ Jacobson native art
It has been a super blast of overwhelming snow over the last 72 hours out here in the Kootenay mountains. This is our official welcome to 2022. Not so much of a happy new year but a real tiring dig from this merciless snow storm. We are now into day 6 of snow, snow and guess what? More snow.
I’m feeling a bit discouraged today by this relentless beating we are all taking out here. Our car is now stuck, I have aches and pains all over my body, my quad is tired and is having difficulty moving all this snow. I can’t move much today. I’m tired...
Also, our little community of 350 souls is running out of food supplies, gas and pretty much everything else. Before we got stuck last night, we had to drive for 4 hours to get a loaf of bread. We picked up a few loafs plus extra food supplies and gassed up in the city of Creston BC. The drive back home was treacherous to say the least. I feel super thankful that we made it home albeit getting stuck at the bottom of our driveway.
There were dozens of cars, trucks and transports on the side of the highway. Very brutal to see the devastation happening out here. We will continue to try to deal with this but today I surrender to Mother Earth. You win...momma.
All my relations, MAJ
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Celebrating winter solstice with the magic and beauty of our son @ Jacobson native art
Pictured here: My son Sagein Wisdom and I, a ball of light and a golden eagle
Wishing each and everyone a wonderful and new chapter of human being life experience here in the celebration of winter solstice with our beautiful and soulfully magical son in Sagein Wisdom. What can a parent say about the magic of their children. Our little diamond in the sky is just that. A continual fountain of magic and inspiration each and every day.
Monday, December 13, 2021
Mastering Morrisseau and continuing to build my legacy @ Jacobson native art
Good evening to each and everyone who continues to find me here at Jacobson native art. Life has been running more smoothly for me these days. I’m back to creating more in the studio and my heart and soul is healing from the revelations of this on going genocide by Canada as the direct result of the residential school children being discovered. With thousands of unsolved murders going unpunished at this point in time and these active crime scenes unwilling to be investigated by the international criminal court, it makes it super difficult and challenging at this time of my life to be in a place of inspiration.
So while I continue to heal during this time I thought it would be nice to share and reflect on my life and journey as a well established woodland school master artist. I’ve been in this process of reflecting on what separates me from Norval Morrisseau and the different timelines of experiences thus far as a leading force in this woodland school of art. I’ve been at this now for over 36 years. Almost four decades now and as I continue to focus on mastering me and my potential, I have come to truly realize just how far I’ve come and how much I’ve grown.
I started drawing woodland art when I was 11 years old. I am a self taught artist. My whole fascination really began when my dad gave his mom, my grandma, a native art painting. It wasn’t until I left for Thunder Bay Ontario at 13 years of age that I actually made my first woodland art painting. It was on a canvas board, about 18 x 24 inches with the subject matter of a crane with a fetus inside it, painted in simple black outlines with a red sun in the top right corner.
Here’s a similar example taken from 1989, a small piece representing my humble beginnings:
Over my three and half decades of experience and practice thus far, I have come a long long way. I have travelled and sold my art all over North America. I have held numerous exhibitions throughout the land and abroad. I have made my way by relying on me. Unlike Norval who had hundreds of people holding his hand along the way. Most of them enablers who always had their own invested interests and financial motives. This is one of the key reasons why Morrisseau was so destructive.
He had around him a cast of characters that he could manipulate because of other people’s motives and desires. Most of that being a money machine that Morrisseau ended up being for countless art galleries and dealers along the way. All hustlers. All wanting a piece of the pie. So sure, one can get a little sloppy with their decisions and choices in life. As they say, you are who you surround yourself with. I got to see so much of that regarding my 15 years of investigating the art fraud surrounding Norval Morrisseau’s legacy.
It was much like being at some haunted house of horrors show in dealing with hundreds of various people along the way of Morrisseau. Too much brokenness, sorrow, lies and deceptions, betrayal and selfishness. Just about everyone of them on both sides of the Morrisseau coin including his own children and family members who betrayed him needing bigtime treatment and healing. That is what I saw as I devoted all those years of my life in being the key architect in saving his artistic legacy. Just as he had asked me to back in 2005.
I still have to say that it remains as one of the shittiest and darkest experiences of my entire life. It’s left me with a bitter taste, a hardened heart. The amount of loss and brokenness around Morrisseau is staggering. I can honestly say to my inner most self that I helped to clean up a ton of karmic mess around this whole thing. If I had never gotten involved the way that I did, this fraud investigation would still be in dead waters. Getting involved in helping to save the lives of all those victims was really the foundation stone of all of this. Justice for those sexual assault survivors, justice for Norval Morrisseau, the world art buying public, collectors, countless museums, galleries, institutions and their various academics and obviously including the Norval Morrisseau estate.
You know after all these years and experiencing all the truth I discovered around all of this I’m actually quite glad to have moved on. Mostly from all the broken people who played a role in finding a way to hurt me. That was the hardest part. Putting my faith in people close to Morrisseau who I thought were the good side. They were of the dark side...and unfortunately were only primarily concerned with themselves. They were cold, calculating and lied to me about who they were.
Title of painting:
The divine realms of Rainbow Thunderbird
In the end learning about the life and art of Norval Morrisseau really did teach me so much about myself. Not so much in the similarities as there are many, but more in our differences along this journey. Look, he’ll always remain the first master of this art form but he most certainly isn’t the only. There are plenty of others in my book who have taken the art form and made it better. I myself can be included in that conversation along with Roy Thomas, Carl Ray, Saul Williams, Leland bell, James Jacko, Roger Kakegamic, Rocky Fiddler, Lloyd Kakepetum, Gelineu Fisher, James Mishinabajima, Isadore Wadow, Richard Bedwash, Brian Marion, Gordon Fiddler, John Rombough, Jim Oskineegish, Blake Debassige, Moses Amik Beaver, Jay Redbird, Randy Trudeau and a few others.
These are the big names I see who have made it their mission to perfect and enlarge upon the style, movement and woodland school itself. The 4th and 5th generation seem to be growing as well but indeed some of them have kind of lost their way. This current decolonization movement called “indigenizing” seems to have gotten off the track. I personally feel like we dont need to Indigenize anything because it’s already here. With us. We are just that. Indigenous. So adding stupid things like a can of Pepsi to a woodland art design or adding cartoon characters to this style seem more about garnering attention on social media than protecting the integrity of our art forms and culture.
I just think there’s no real merit in that shit except stealing colonial ideas, themes and concepts and trying to make it “native” or “indigenous”...lol. It just defeats the purpose really and I don’t think there’s any real magic in any of that. Pop culture shit really and there’s just too much of that garbage floating around now a days. I prefer real spirit in the art I make. That is me. This is my view and experience. I also don’t agree with white people painting this art form, selling it in galleries and passing it off as native art. We all know it’s not so stop pretending. You know who you are...
Paintings by:
Norval Morrisseau (Flowers, birds and butterflies)
In researching the many sides to this Morrisseau puzzle regarding the extensive size and scope of this art fraud and in meeting Morrisseau himself and spending a great deal of time with him before he died in 2007, I have come to see the many differences between him and I. He was definitely more destructive to himself and his family. The disease of alcoholism being fuelled by his own trauma of being in residential school and suffering sexual abuse really took its toll. Even right up until the end, he would sip on a Mickey that Gabe Vadas would give him on our many trips and visits. I saw it with my own eyes so I know the truth. (It’s unnecessary for the estate to lie about Norvals sobriety)
This was and continues to be one of the greatest lessons Ive learned from the life of Norval Morrisseau. Even today I haven’t taken a drop of alcohol in over 23 years now. Sobriety and walking the red road each and everyday has been the catalyst for me getting better and better. Not only as an artist but as a human being as well. I also don’t suffer from the many passions and obsessions that Norval Morrisseau did. I have mastered many of those obstacles where as in Morrisseau those things really defined his experience even up unto his death.
Maybe it’s true what they say, more money more problems. I can only reflect on what I saw and what I experienced and indeed that for me is what defines the differences. Today I would rather hang a Jacobson original in my home, than a Morrisseau. I’ve owned Morrisseau’s and I still own 9 pieces today and will always appreciate the beauty and power of most of his work. But after everything that I saw and learned regarding his art, life and legacy? I’d hang a Jacobson over a Morrisseau any day of the week. I suppose that is one of the telling signs when you’ve outgrown your mentors, those before you and so on.
As we should, building upon the great foundations of those before us. I think they would want it that way. That each of us should take the lessons of those before us, truly learn from them and continue to build forward and upward. That is what an art movement should be all about. Perfecting it. Making it better from one generation to the next. I know there will be others like me who see the challenge as a great one...and why not? For it is the very inspiration that creates the hunger for even greater innovation in the ingenuity and creativeness in the human spirit, the human being. The human soul. All my relations....MAJ
Title of painting:
In honour of our son - Sagein Wisdom