Artist's Inspirations, part 9: I'm an Artist, not a Traditionalist
- zhaawano
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
March 19, 2026
Aaniin!
My name is Zhaawano-giizhik. I view myself as an artist rather than a traditionalist. I don't believe it's possible to be both an artist and a traditionalist. Nevertheless, I do think that a traditionalist, especially one with the lifelong wisdom of an Elder, can inspire and even encourage an artist to capture and express their environment.
A notable example of this is Boodaan, a 20th-century Anishinaabe traditionalist from Bingwi Neyaashi (Sand Point, Ontario) and a member of the Midewiwin society. He strongly encouraged his young grandson, Miskwaabik Animikii (Norval Morrisseau), to develop a new, personal visual language. This innovative painting style allowed his grandson to transform the traditional world of his ancestors into modern visual representations that could be appreciated by all.
In time, the young Norval would come to be regarded as the grandfather of all Native artists.
I was born in 1959, the same year Miskwaabik Animikii officially began creating his distinctive works that combined Anishinaabe Ojibwe storytelling with a vibrant, graphic style—though he had been drawing earlier. It was he who opened my eyes, and those of many other artists, to a different reality, eventually inspiring me to create graphic art and jewelry designs in the Native Woodland style. For this reason, I will always be deeply indebted to Boodaan and his grandson Miskwaabik Animikii. Both will be remembered for Norval's pioneering influence on the art world, inspiring numerous Indigenous artists and countless individuals in future generations...
Miigwech.
Illustration: Achaak izhinamowin (Soul Vision) ©2026 Zhaawano Giizhik
THE LINKS:
Artist's Inspirations, part 9: I'm an Artist, not a Traditionalist