Dion, asked M茅tis artists Marissa Magneson and Jason Baerg about their roles as artists and advocates, and how the visual arts are important in educating others.

鈥淎s an academic in the Faculty of Education and the University鈥檚 inaugural vice-president of Indigenous initiatives, there are many important lessons that can be taken from Indigenous artforms, both related to self discovery and celebration of important days of history,鈥� said Dion. 鈥淢any Indigenous artists, such as M茅tis artist Marissa Magneson, use art to signify important moments in Indigenous Peoples鈥� histories. A good example is Louis Riel Day, which is marked each year on November 16.

鈥淚t is an important day for M茅tis Peoples because Riel well known for his role in the Northwest Resistance, which was a stand against government encroachment of M茅tis lands. He is also widely considered a hero for defending M茅tis language, culture and political rights,鈥� said Dion.鈥淔ollowing the defeat at the siege of Batoche, Riel was arrested, convicted of treason and executed. Despite this tragedy, Riel knew that artists would take the lead in the revitalization of M茅tis history and culture. This is best illustrated by his often-quoted words, 鈥楳y people will sleep for 100 years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who will give them their spirit back.鈥欌��

York alumna Marissa Magneson鈥檚 work is centred around decolonizing education, strengthening community and cultural reclamation. 鈥淚t is through the arts that I have found my way back to my culture and now I use art to educate and share this journey with others. For many of my ancestors, it was safer to pass as French than admit they were M茅tis,鈥� said Magneson. 鈥淚f you could pass as white, you did for the safety and future of yourself and your children. Today I am proud to be M茅tis. The seeds my ancestors planted within me are now blossoming as I reclaim our culture, languages, traditions, artforms and ways of life.鈥�

Magneson鈥檚 medicine pouch is beaded on leather that was sourced from her cousin, John Somosi and includes a design from M茅tis artist, Dylan Miner. 鈥淔or me the design represents this phase of awakening that Riel spoke about. As the flower begins to bud, we are reclaiming what was taken, but never forgotten,鈥� said Magneson.

Magneson is a Cree-M茅tis artist, photographer, educator, and workshop facilitator. An alumna of 快播视频, Magneson has a BFA (honours) degree from 快播视频 and an MA in Canadian and Indigenous Studies from Trent University. Her master鈥檚 research explores Indigenous methodologies through a decolonial approach centred in beadwork as visual storytelling.

For M茅tis artist Jason Baerg, his work draws on work by the late Norval Morrisseau, considered to be the grandfather of contemporary Indigenous art.

鈥溾�楥opper and Red Thunderbird鈥� is a tribute to Norval Morrisseau (Copper Thunderbird) and my Spirit Name Mihko-Pih锚siw Nap卯w (Red Thunderbird),鈥� said Baerg. 鈥淚 was given my second Spirit Name, Mihko-Pih锚siw Nap卯w (Red Thunderbird), by Elder Raymond Ballentine from Pelican Narrow First Nations, which is in the vicinity of my homeland and where I was raised in Prince Albert. In the ceremony, he mentioned that he sensed Norval鈥檚 energy around and gifted me the name.

鈥淭he central repeating pattern in the installation is a quote from a Norval Morrisseau Thunderbird painting,鈥� explained Baerg. 鈥淚 used the positive and negative space of the wingspan of one of his compositions to create a laser cut out used in the installation, and the four suspended paintings.鈥�

As an artist, Baerg is committed to the goal of supporting M茅tis self-determination and its advancement in the arts through forms of gathering, knowledge sharing, research and advocacy. He brought together a group of M茅tis artists, curators, writers and educators and formed the Shushkitew Collective to build capacity, and to support intergenerational dialogue and learning, while concurrently activating the visioning of M茅tis futurities. In reference to the Shushkitew Collective Baerg writes, 鈥淲e engage with the concept of man芒wewin to speak to the precious resources we need to sustain our bodies, our communities and our creative spirit.鈥�

Baerg is a registered member of the M茅tis Nations of Ontario and serves his community as an Indigenous activist, curator, educator, and visual artist. He graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Master of Fine Arts from Rutgers University and is enrolled in the PhD program at Monash University. Baerg teaches as the assistant professor in Indigenous Practices in Contemporary Painting and Media Art at OCAD University. Exemplifying his commitment to the community, he co-founded The Shushkitew Collective and The M茅tis Artist Collective. Baerg has served as volunteer Chair for such organizations as the Indigenous Curatorial Collective and the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition. As a visual artist, he pushes digital interventions in drawing, painting and new media installation.

To see more of Magneson鈥檚 work, visit her on Instagram: @MagnesonStudios / @MarissaMagnesonPhotography or through her website at . To see more of Baerg鈥檚 work and to learn more about his exhibitions and advocacy, visit his website at .

Article originally published in the November 14, 2021 issue of .

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