Woodland Indigenous Art Collection

New College has been home to the Woodland Indigenous Art Collection since 1979. Artists featured in the Collection include:

• Carl Beam (Ojibwe, M’Chigeeng)
• Leland Bell (Anishinaabe, Wikwemikong)
• Blake Debassige (Ojibwe, M’Chigeeng)
• Dusty Kakegamic (Oji-Cree, Keewaywin)
• Goyce Kakegamic (Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake), co-founder of Triple K Co-op
• Joshim Kakegamic (Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake), co-founder of Triple K Co-op
• Morley Kakepetum (Ojibwe, Sandy Lake)
• Eleanor Kanasawe (Ojibwe, Wikwemikong)
• John Eric Laford (Ojibwe, Manitoulin Island)
• James Simon Mishibinijima (Ojibwe, Wikwemikong)
• Daphne Odjig (Odawa-Potawatomi, Wikwemikong) of the Indian Group of 7
• Carl Ray (Cree, Sandy Lake) of the Indian Group of 7
• Roy Thomas (Ojibwe, Longlac at Pacquashun)
• Randy Trudeau (Odawa/Ojibwe, Wikiwemikong)
• Saul Williams (Ojibwe, Weagamow Lake)

What is Woodland style art?

Woodland is a distinct style of art blending traditional knowledge, legends, and myths with contemporary mediums. It explores the relationships between people, animals, and plants and is rich with spiritual imagery and symbolism. With its bright colours, bold lines, and 2-dimensional design, Woodland Art is one of the most recognizable forms of Indigenous art. The visionary style emphasizes heavy black form lines and x-ray views of colourful, figurative images. Its perspective is frontal, profile, or aerial, lacking ground lines and indications of horizons. Indigenous symbolism is at the heart of Woodland Art, yet the mediums are anything but traditional. Woodland paintings are typically acrylic or watercolour paints on paper, canvas, or wood. 

Copper Thunderbird (1932-2007), also known as Norval Morrisseau, an Anishinaabeg artist from Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation, is credited as the founder of the Woodland style of art. He was the first Anishinaabeg to break the tribal rules of setting down Indigenous knowledges in picture form and was originally criticized for disclosing traditional spiritual knowledge. However, his unique style gained traction in the late 1960s, revitalizing traditional Anishinaabeg icons and inspiring many generations of artists from Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba. 

The Collection

White Faced Eagle (1979), Acrylic and paper collage, 41.00 x 51.00 in.

Beam, Carl, (1943-2005), Ojibwe, M’Chigeeng

Location: Library, west wall

Going Back to Maitoulin (1979), Acrylic on paper, 40.00 x 31.75 in.

Bell, Leland/Bebaminojmat, (1953-1991), Ojibwe/Odawa, Wikwemikong

Location: Library, main level stairwell

Mother and Daughter Talking (1978), Acrylic on paper, 40.50 x 36.50 in.

Bell, Leland/Bebaminojmat, (1953-1991), Ojibwe/Odawa, Wikwemikong

Location: Library, main level stairwell

My People’s Travels (unknown), Acrylic on canvas, 51.00 x 47.00 in.

Debassige, Blake, (1956-2022), Ojibwe, M’Chigeeng

Location: Wetmore Hall, 135A (Senior Common Room)

Birth of Beavers (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 22.25 x 30.25 in.

Kakegamic, Dusty, (1962-), Oji-Cree, Keewaywin

Location: Library, west wall, near room 1022

Dancing of Great Spirits (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 23.00 x 31.00 in.

Kakegamic, Dusty, (1962-), Oji-Cree, Keewaywin

Location: Library, west wall, near room 1022

Feeding the Young (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 20.75 x 15.13 in.

Kakegamic, Dusty, (1962-), Oji-Cree, Keewaywin

Location: Library, west wall, near room 1022

Family (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 16.25 x 21.25 in.

Kakegamic, Dusty, (1962-), Oji-Cree, Keewaywin

Location: Library, west wall, near room 1022

The Flight (1978), Acrylic or gouache, 32.25 x 40.25 in.

Kakegamic, Goyce, (1948-2021), Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake

Location: Library, near entrance to stacks

Untitled (1) (unknown), [unknown], [unknown]

Kakegamic, Goyce, (1948-2021), Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake

Location: TBD

Family (1978), Acrylic or gouache, 34.25 x 27.25 in.

Kakegamic, Goyce, (1948-2021), Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake

Location: Library, near entrance to stacks

Untitled (2) (unknown), [unknown], [unknown]

Kakegamic, Goyce, (1948-2021), Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake

Location: TBD

The Shaking Tent (1977), Acrylic, 22.09 x 29.57 in.

Kakegamic, Joshim, (1952-1993), Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake

Location: Wetmore Hall, 135A (senior common room)

The First Beaver House (unknown), [unknown], [unknown]

Kakepetum, Morley, (1936-2010), Ojibwe, Sandy Lake

Location: TBD

Two Eagles (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 30.50 x 28.50 in.

Kanasawe, Eleanor, (1958-), Ojibwe, Wikwemikong

Location: Library, main level stairwell

Legend of Another Time (1978), Acrylic on paper, 29 x 22.50 in.

Laford, John Eric, (1954-2021), Ojibwe, N/A

Location

Medicine Turtle Dance (unknown), Acrylic on paper,

Laford, John Eric, (1954-2021), Ojibwe, N/A

Location: TBD

John Paul (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 40.00 x 31.75 in.

Odjig, Daphne, (1919-2016), Odawa, Wikwemikong

Location: Library, main level stairwell

Going to Heaven (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 30.00 x 40.00  in.

Ray, Carl, (1943-1979), Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake

Location: Library, main level stairwell

Grandfather Smoking Pipe (unknown), Acrylic on canvas, 23.62 x 29.33 in.

Ray, Carl, (1943-1979), Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake

Location: Library, main level stairwell

Separation (1976), Acrylic on canvas, 18.82 x 24.53 in.

Ray, Carl, (1943-1979), Oji-Cree, Sandy Lake

Location: Library, main level stairwell

Bear (1980), Acrylic on canvas, 18.62 x 19.61 in.

Simon Mishibinijima, James, (1954-), Ojibwe, Wikwemikong

Location: Library, south wall

Porcupine (1980), Acrylic on canvas, 19.69 x 23.70 in.

Simon Mishibinijima, James, (1954-), Ojibwe, Wikwemikong

Location: TBD

Untitled (unknown), Acrylic and graphite, 14.33 x 21.46 in.

Thomas, Roy, (1949-2004), Ojibwe, Longlac at Pacquashun

Location: TBD

Moose and Wolves (unknown), [unknown], [unknown]

Thomas, Roy, (1949-2004), Ojibwe, Longlac at Pacquashun

Location: TBD

Signs of the Weather (1977), Acrylic on canvas, 37.37 x 25.25 in.

Trudeau, Randy, (1954-2013), Odawa/Ojibwe, Wikwemikong

Location: Library, main level stairwell

Nokomos Became Powerful (N/A), Acrylic on canvas, 17.40 x 25.59 in.

Trudeau, Randy, (1954-2013), Odawa/Ojibwe, Wikwemikong

Location: Wetmore Hall, 135A (senior common room)

Thunderbirds (1979), Acrylic on canvas, 50.00 x 50.00 in.

Trudeau, Randy, (1954-2013), Odawa/Ojibwe, Wikwemikong

Location: Library, west wall

Loon (1978), Black ink on canvas, 11.42 x 17.64 in.

Williams, Saul, (1954-), Ojibwe, Weagamow Lake

Location: Library, concrete pillar in entrance foyer

Turmoils of Life [Using Animals as Interpretations] (unknown), Acrylic on canvas, 21.50 x 29.21 in.

Williams, Saul, (1954-), Ojibwe, Weagamow Lake

Location: Library, main level stairwell

Mythical Creatures [Surrounding Man] (unknown), Acrylic on canvas, 28.25 x 35.38 in.

Williams, Saul, (1954-), Ojibwe, Weagamow Lake

Location: Library, main level stairwell

Diving Birds (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 37.38 x 28.25 in.

Williams, Saul, (1954-), Ojibwe, Weagamow Lake

Location: Library, near entrance to stacks

Test – The Collection (with media)