Donald Chrétien,

Indigenous Artist, Nipissing First Nation A.O.C.A

Don was raised in North Bay, Ontario, near Nipissing First Nation. He later resided in York Region, Newmarket for almost 30 years. A graduate from the Ontario College of Art and Design, Chretien worked as a commercial artist and designer for many national and international accounts but found his own pathway in the visual arts when he met and was mentored by Elder, Writer and Scholar, Basil Johnson. From his teacher, Don learned to become a visual storyteller and to respectfully translate Johnson’s centuries old tales through his paintings and prints.

In 2009 he was selected to be part of the Aboriginal Art Acquisition Program for the 2010 Olympic Games where he was commissioned to create a massive 80-foot installation piece for the Vancouver Olympics titled ‘Mother, Friend, Small Bird’ which is on permanent display in Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum and part of the Vancouver Art Registry.

In 2011 Grey Roots Museum exhibit: “The Good People: Know Our Stories, Know Us” where he designed a series of colorful symbols, or doodems. The Good People is a recipient of a 2010 Ontario Museum Association Award of Excellence and a 2011 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Museums, Honourable Mention in the History Alive! category. Now part of the Heritage Interpretation Department at Grey Roots Museum.

He also created 10 totems along the Tom Taylor Trail in Newmarket were commissioned in 2014. Many of his work is exhibited on several sites across Turtle Island

In June of 2018 Don took part in the Ontario Government’s reconciliation project and sculpted a tree, which has toured around the province.

Since 2018, Don has been teaching art courses at the McMichael Gallery and been part of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection VOICES program and he has travelled to schools for close to 10 years in York Regional School Board, but also a couple fly-ins in Northern Ontario, Deer Lake and Poplar Hills.

To learn more about Don, click here for his longer timeline and bio or visit his website: www.donaldchretien.com

Shelley Charles – Mandakwe

Shelley is Ojibway Anishinaabe from Georgina Island First Nation on Lake Simcoe.  She is a graduate of Horticulture Science and Masters of Indigenous Philosophy from 7th Generation Institute in Fort Frances, Ontario and the World Indigenous Higher Education Consortium, (WINHEC).

As Elder, Advisor and 1st Dean of Indigenous Education & Engagement at Humber College, Shelley led and developed the Indigenous Resource Centres at Humber College, Indigenous Knowledge and gaining the Award of Excellence in Indigenous Knowledges, Colleges and Institutes Canada, 2015.

Shelley’s first teacher was her grandmother who taught her how to harvest food and plants as medicine and has used this knowledge in the restoration of Indigenous plants; designing medicine gardens (McMichael/Humber Arboretum//Clearwater) and teachings on the land. Working with Elders & knowledge Keepers she has developed contemporary land acknowledgements within cultural markers on the land; restoring the use of Indigenous place names along the Humber river waterways.

Recently, Shelley was Project Lead for Indigenous Women in Agriculture with the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) and was promoted to Cultural Advisor and Instructor for the School of Aviation, First Nations Technical Institute, (FNTI) in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Shelley works with corporations and Indigenous consultants across Canada as an Advisor and in community engagement teaching Indigenous worldview, culture and language from an Ojibwe Anishinaabe perspective.