https://ricochet.media/en/1808/canada-needs-a-law-protecting-indigenous-art-from-appropriation
The U.S. and Australia have legislation protecting Indigenous art forms and symbols, so why not follow their lead?
Normal Morrisseau's Art:
"Man Changing into Thunderbird"
Thunderbird | Shamanistic Art
TransMigration
The Great Flood
Kaha:wi Dance
A Separate Reality
As you can see this Woodland art originated by Norval Morrisseau is an integral part of his indigenous culture, depicting it's cultural heritage, stories and spiritual beliefs. It is not art for art's sake as Western culture understands art; that is really used for bartering and profit, especially in our century. So a young chippy with little depth and understanding of these beliefs and symbols chooses to plagiarize them and then calls it free expression is basically undermining and humiliating the indigenous culture, whose art is not made for profit but as an expression of their spiritual inner lives and traditions.
" Indigenous artists aren’t playing by the rules defined by Western European art traditions. In honour of Norval Morrisseau — especially in honour of this Anishinabe giant — they have shut down non-Indigenous folks such as PL who think it’s okay to appropriate his style for profit."
Indigenous art deserves to be produced and propagated by Indigenous artists, not by privileged wealthy young , mindless western twits...(I guess my bias is showing). I met Norval Morrisseau during one of his exhibitions and felt for him, as he was also exploited by the Western galleries...but interesting enough in 1990's he was the only Canadian artist truly known in Paris France art circles.