Meet The Artists

Brandon Jacko

Brandon Jacko

Brandon Jacko is an Anishinaabe Woodland artist from Wikwemkoong Unceded Territory who uses his talent to connect with his heritage and promote Anishinaabe history and identity. His artwork, inspired by both his culture and contemporary themes, has been acquired by collectors from all over the world.

Kaluyahawi

Kaluyahawi Jocelyn Antone

My art is always changing, like the clouds in the sky and the stars in our galaxy.

Open minded individual, professional creative living with adhd. Self accomplished digital artist.

Oneida turtle clan from Oneida nation of the Thames with familial roots in saddle lake Alberta, Icurrently reside in Six Nations. Self proclaimed language nerd, learning Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) andOnyota’a:ka (Oneida) languages to create more language resources and translate into digitalstorytellings.

Learning more about human connections, communication and community, thriving andgrowing, I aspire to become a brand and create a positive impact in community through art. I enjoymutually sharing cultural teachings and stories with open minded people within different communities,one of my passions is learning about different Indigenous cultures and the similarities between ourcultures.

Magneson Studios

Marissa Magneson

Marissa Magneson (@MagnesonStudios) is a Cree-Métis artist, photographer, educator, and workshop facilitator. Her Master's research looks at Indigenous re-search methodologies using beadwork as visual storytelling and her Ph.D. in Education focuses on beadwork as pedagogy.Recently Magneson has begun incorporating medicines inside her work, including sage inside necklaces and tobacco in beaded pins. She draws inspiration for her work from books by Indigenous authors, the land, and her experiences as an Indigenous woman.

Little Shiny Wolf

Mercedes Massingale

My english name is Mercedes.
I am from the Nisga'a Nation on my mother's side,and African American mixed on my father's.
I started dabbling in beading in 2017 in Toronto. Being a First Nations person from the West Coast, I am used to seeing carved pieces regularly. I would occasionally see beaded work, but it was not as common. However, upon migrating to the East Coast of Canada, the exposure to beaded jewelry boomed for myself. I have always appreciated Indigenous beaded jewelry and Regalia. After first being introduced to beading, I had an even greater appreciation for all the passion, love, time, and labour that goes into creating various pieces. The more I became involved in the Indigenous community in Toronto, the more my passion and confidence grew in my capability as an artist. I continue this journey to present day, creating in Toronto ON currently, previously my community of Gingolx BC. I am so grateful that I can create, and that people want to support that creativity and wear what I've made.​

Why Little Shiny Wolf?

That is my name translated into English from Nisga'a. It is a name that was chosen and given to me when I was young. And throughout one's life you add to that name through accomplishments and life experiences. One day I could be up for a name strengthening, or I could inherit a name someone else has carried and added so much to and my current name will be passed down to my child, a niece, or a nephew.Until then, I am Little Shiny Wolf...

T'ooyaksiy' niin

Monique (Mo Thunder) Bedard

@mo.thunder

Mo (they/them) is a nonbinary/fluid, neurodivergent multidisciplinary artist and facilitator who grew up in a small town along the St. Clair River, they currently live in T’karonto (Toronto), which has been home for over a decade. They are Haudenosaunee (Oneida Nation of the Thames), French-Canadian and Anishinaabe (Aamjiwnaang First Nation).

Mo holds a BFA in studio art with a focus on drawing, silkscreen printing, photography and video from Fanshawe College and the University of Lethbridge, however, they are also self and community-taught. They have over 15 years of experience in community arts facilitation, organization, education, collaboration and consultation. Since high school, they have been working in community arts creating solo and collaborative murals and providing group and individual art facilitation. In June 2022, Mo graduated from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI).

Through their multidisciplinary art practice (painting, murals, mixed media, beading, journaling, poetry and textiles), they create visual stories about their lived experiences in connection to their personal healing. Mo is also inspired by intergenerational connections and healing, family and memories, personal and collective empowerment, and all of creation, especially skyworld.

Mo co-created and co-facilitated a community art / creative expression program for young Indigenous folks in T’karonto, Our Stories Our Truths (OSOT) and a mural collective of BIPoC 2SLGBTQQIAP+ and gender-diverse creatives, Earth Sky Collective (ESC).

They have a deep love and passion for learning Oneida language, zines, journals, art supplies, music, neurodiversity, organization, sewing, fashion and tattoos!

Bone & Quill

Marcos Arcentales

The elements of nature come together through Bone & Quill, created by mestizo-indigenous artist Marcos Arcentales.
Porcupine quills are gathered to be crafted into one-of-a-kind accessories, melded with copper, silver wire. A touch of sparkle is added through beads of turquoise, amethyst, and other crystals, providing a unique personality to each piece. More work can be found at https://bone-quill-store.myshopify.com

Sumak Copper Collection

Pedro Maldonado

Pedro Maldonado comes from the community of Peguche near Otavalo, Ecuador. He is a self taught metal work artist creating unique jewellery by using traditional materials such as copper, brass, palosanto, chrysacolla and more. He is most commonly known as "Metalico", due to his love for metal music.

YANA MANTA

Kinoo Arcentales

Kinoo Arcentales (Yana Manta) is an artist of South American indigenous (Kichwa) and Mestizo heritage. Born in Canada in 1992, into a family of artists, Kinoo was exposed to different kinds of arts from an early age. His main role models are his grandmothers on both sides of his family: one being a business owner, the other a retired fashion designer. 

Kinoo was awarded with The Rowenta Best in Show Award at the Redefining Design 2016, which was acknowledged by numerous Toronto magazines. 

Kinoo’s 2016 collection AN.D.N was inspired by the prophesy of Condor meets the Eagle.

Surrounded by art and culture, he has found his main inspiration and purpose from his native heritage. Knowing the history of his people and the stereotypical dominant views of the indigenous groups, Kinoo is not only willing, but is zealous to change these perceptions through his vision YANA MANTA.

Tela Pacho

Pacho Lema

Father, business owner, musician, and master weaver. Pacho uses traditional techniques of treating and processing wool and holds knowledge of the use of traditional wooden looms and waist looms. He also incorporates Andean designs into more modern based textile machines making blankets, ponchos, tablecloths, and more. 

Andrew Sagutch

Muskeekiniinge

Andrew was born on the Eabametoong, First Nation and grew up in a place called Lansdowne House near Neskantaga, ON. As a youth he spent much time in the forests and rivers near his community, listening to what nature would tell him. His connection to the Earth has always been the driving force behind each craft, allowing him to create with a deeper sense of expression. Andrew studied photography at the International Academy of Design & Technology of Toronto, and has completed film studies courses at George Brown College. Andrew continues to express his unique talents in a variety of artistic forms including: digital photography, portraiture, video filming, music, painting, and traditional First Nation art. 

Chief Lady Bird

@chiefladybird

Chief Lady Bird is a Chippewa and Potawatomi artist from Rama First Nation and Moosedeer Point First Nation, who is currently based in Toronto. She graduated from OCAD University in 2015 with a BFA in Drawing and Painting and a minor in Indigenous Visual Culture. Through her art practice, Chief Lady Bird uses street art, community-based workshops, digital illustration and mixed media work to challenge the lens that Indingeous people are often viewed through. Her work subvert the dominant culture's frequent fetishization of Indigenous culture by highliting the diverse experiences that we all come from. 

Chief Lady Bird was the recipient of the Donna Mclean Award for Portraiture and Life Study in 2015; she is known across Turtle Island for her murals and received the Leading Women Building Communities Recognition Award in 2017 alongside Aura. In addition to this, she has created designs/illustrations for Vice News, the Ontario Human Rights Communision, Open Canda, West End Phoenix, the Institute for Research on Public Policy, Chirp Magazine, Frank Waln, Indiana Inuit: Das Nordamerika Film Festival (Germany), and Oasis Skateboard Factory, to name a few. She was also proudly featured in the legendary Kinship issue of Canadian Arts alongside many brilliant Indigenous Artists!

Clear Wind Blows Over the Moon

Cree/Metis/Scottish/Irish

Heather is a Cree First Nations healer, big drum keeper and group facilitator with over 20 years experience.

Her healing and peacemaking songs come through the big drum helping to bridge relationships between all people, especially between Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

Her spirit led healing work has helped transform the lives of many and she’s thrilled and deeply honoured to share this sacred medicine

Sweetest Dreams

Tabatha Dodge

Sweetest Dreams is a jewellery and accessories line, owned and operated by native artist Tabatha Dodge. Tabatha was born and raised on Walpole Island First Nation aka Bkejwanong Territory. Here is where she learned beading, craft making and other traditional techniques of her ancestors from her Grandmothers. Tabatha likes to take the stories and teachings of the past and make them more modern for today's society in her line Sweetest Dreams.