Description:
The future of humanity depends on the health of the water, and the health of the water depends on the great awakening that is underway. In our hearts and lodges, at feasts, blockades and round dances in the streets, the anti-pipeline movement is embedded in rich kinship ties to all our relations. We have treaties with all of creation. Honouring these sacred agreements with plant, animal and water nations is essential to the restoration of Indigenous self-determination. [1]
What we do:
We are a community based social arts and justice organization, interested in helping Indigenous communities, particularly youth, with reclaiming the richness and vibrancy of their heritage including traditional arts, but with a contemporary spin. Our collective combines land-based contemporary art creation with traditional arts, anishinaabemowin immersion, and Elders and traditional knowledge and land based practices. We believe the arts are the most powerful medium to create positive social change within our communities for the future.
Pronounced ah-nah-mun, The Onaman Collective was formed in November of 2014 by Isaac Murdoch, and Christi Belcourt. We care so deeply about the youth and the future of our communities, each of us in our own way has been using our art for social change. We formed the collective for the express purpose of finding ways to converge land-based art creation with traditional knowledge, youth, Elders and Anishnaabemowin and Cree languages. [2]
Who we are:
Onaman Collective is formed by artists Christi Belcourt and Isaac Murdoch. We are Indigenous artists and environmentalists who love the land and believe in the spirits of the land. We believe in the resilience and beauty of our people. We believe in our Elders and our young people. With everything we do, the underlying theme is always respect for the land and reclamation of the ways of our ancestors. [3]
Isaac Murdoch
Isaac Murdoch, whose Ojibway name is Manzinapkinegego’anaabe / Bombgiizhik is from the fish clan and is from Serpent River First Nation. Isaac grew up in the traditional setting of hunting, fishing and trapping. Many of these years were spent learning from Elders in the northern regions of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Isaac is well respected as a storyteller and traditional knowledge holder. For many years he has led various workshops and cultural camps that focuses on the transfer of knowledge to youth. [3]
References
[1] Awasis, Sakihitowin. “Keep It in the Ground!” Canadian Art, August 7, 2017. https://canadianart.ca/features/keep-it-in-the-ground/.
[2] “What We Do.” Onaman Collective. Accessed January 11, 2021. http://onamancollective.com/what-we-do/.
[3] “Who We Are.” Onaman Collective. Accessed January 11, 2021. http://onamancollective.com/who-we-are/.
Additional Information
Christi Belcourt. Accessed January 11, 2021. http://christibelcourt.com/the-onamin-collective/.
Pember, Mary Annette. “Onaman Collective Puts Art Into Resistance.” IndianCountryToday.com. Indian Country Today, May 1, 2017. https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/onaman-collective-puts-art-into-resistance-NybUvvo4Tk-4TsF5G_dDkA.
