Banners From Anishnaabe Voices

A series of museum banners commermorating the words of our elders and ancestors.

Dan Pine Kategauneebee Anishnabai Garden River First Nation	Arnelda Jacobs Chi Gennebek Zibing Anishnabek Serpent River First Nation

Art Gallery

The OCF Art Gallery presents and celebrates the creative vision of Anishnaabe artists. Our gallery has exhibited many internationally recognized artists from Manitoulin Island and across northern Ontario, who have helped elevate the woodlands style of art to prominence worldwide, including Daphne Odjig , Norval Morrisseau, Leland Bell, Mel Madahbee, Roy Thomas and Blake Debassige among others. We also showcase contemporary art genres and feature the work of new Anishnaabe artists. We regularly exhibit new and emerging artists who bring forth an exciting blend of traditional and modern art styles and mediums that eloquently express the evolving nature of the Anishnaabe artistic vision.

Museum

The timeless and beautiful heritage art forms of the Anishnaabe: porcupine quill boxes, ash and sweet grass baskets and moose antler carvings are the featured exhibit in the OCF museum. There are few practitioners of these ageless traditional arts left in our communities. The aesthetics and functionality of their craft has remained strong through the years and can be clearly seen the fine detailing and reverential use of natural world materials by these skilled Anishnaabe artisans.

Amphitheatre

During the summer the OCF Amphitheatre celebrates our storytelling, song and dance with weekly presentations by Anishnaabe traditional and contemporary performers. Learn the meaning of our traditional songs and dance, the significance of our dance regalia and how drums are crafted. Experience Anishnaabe stories through the performances of the Debajehgmujig Theatre group. Debajehgmujig has toured North America and Europe and is one of Canada’s premiere Aboriginal interpretive theatre groups.

Arts Theatre

The OCF Cultural Arts Theatre video programs focuses on Anishnaabe culture, arts, language and heritage. Throughout the summer the OCF presents a video series profiling the Pow Wow and traditional dance, our most important social gathering and our most dynamic expression of our culture and spirituality; how ancient pictographs and traditional spiritual beliefs influence the artistic vision with renowned woodlands artist James Mishibinjima and how to build a traditional wigwam, our traditional home.

Presentations

Throughout the year the OCF offers in the Cultural Arts Theatre and gallery a series of artistic, cultural and historical multimedia and interpersonal presentations by noted artists, art curators, historians and traditional wisdom keepers. The summer program has featured Professor Darlene Johnston speaking on the Anishnaabe clan system; Professor Darrel Manitowabi discussing archeological interpretations of traditional legends; art curator Bonnie Devine on Anishnaabe art from a curatorial, artistic and global perspective and renowned artists James Simon and Leland Bell, bone carver Gordon Waindubence and printmaker Ahmoo Angecomb discussing their lives, work and artistic vision.

Summer Sessions

From June through August the OCF in association with the Great Spirit Circle Trial provides a series of hands-on traditional craft sessions. Under the guidance of a skilled Anishnaabe craftsperson participants will discover the intricacies of our fine beadwork and leather craft and learn the history and cultural symbolism of these traditional art forms. For more information on the cultural experiences hosted by the OCF in association with the Great Spirit Circle Trial and a listing and scheduling of related cultural events visit www.circletrail.com

Gift Shop

The OCF gift shop offers a variety of fine art prints, traditional art items such as beadwork, turquoise jewelry, sweet grass braids, reed and bark baskets, moccasins and art cards made by skilled Anishnaabe artisans.