Daria Darewych, Ph.D.
Art Historian
In response to the war in Ukraine Brian Waboose, an Indigenous artist from Ontario, has created an impressive painting titled The Seven Grandfathers’ Teachings: Respect, Love, Bravery, Honesty, Truth, Wisdom, and Humility which he has dedicated to peace in Ukraine.
The seven grandfathers’ teachings are the founding principles of character by which each Anishinaabe should live by. In this painting dedicated to Ukraine by Brian Waboose they are depicted as seven Indigenous horse riders on a field of blue and yellow recognized worldwide as the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Six of the horsemen with eagle staffs held high, are seen riding across the blue and yellow backdrop towards the viewer. According to Brian Waboose eagle staffs represent calmness, love, and caring. The seventh warrior bearing a Ukrainian flag is depicted centrally riding across the blue and yellow background, a symbol of Ukraine’s independence and bravery. There are seven bird silhouettes flying overhead representing eagles, as well as two pairs of stylized eagle feathers floating in the sky in the upper corners of the composition. According to the artist eagle feathers are symbolic of care, relationships, and respect and are to be found in many of his paintings. A whitish full moon or perhaps a pale sun representing the Giver of Life hovers high in the sky.
In First Nations culture eagles are considered sacred because they fly closest to the Creator. They symbolize respect, honour, strength, courage, power, wisdom, and freedom. An eagle feather is considered to be a powerful image which signifies honour and a connection between the owner, the Creator, and the bird from which the feather came. It is an object that is deeply revered and is a sign of high honour. Traditionally, Ojibwe warriors were awarded an eagle feather for notable bravery or battle victory. Two feathers tied together may mean that everything will be fine, but even sooner than hoped for.
By presenting traditional Indigenous cultural images and myths such as the seven grandfathers’ teachings, eagles, and eagle feathers against a background symbolic of Ukraine’s independence Brian Waboose has created an interesting, unique, and powerful composition. A composition which in keeping with the Woodland School’s style of Indigenous art combines traditional legends and myths with the reality of today using contemporary media.
Brian Waboose is a gifted Indigenous artist known for his colourful paintings and carvings. He is a member of the Whitefish River First Nation known as Birch Island in the Manitoulin Island District of central north-eastern Ontario. Born in 1955 at Chapleau, Ontario, he spent his early years at the Pic-Mobert Reserve in the Thunder Bay area where he spent many winters trapping with his parents and grandparents. After the death of his father when Brian was nine years old, he was placed in St. Joseph’s Training School for boys where he suffered terrible abuse and lost his Indigenous culture. At age 22 he began rediscovering and exploring his Anishinaabe heritage which had been beaten out of him in residential school and started painting. Since 1977 he has been painting in what is recognized as the Woodland style of Indigenous art. Symbolism is prominent in much of his work. His paintings have been exhibited widely throughout Ontario including at the Tom Becket Gallery in Hamilton, the Woodland Cultural Center in Brantford, the Crystal Gallery, and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.
Brian Waboose has donated his painting dedicated to Ukraine to the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation in Toronto. The official ceremony and presentation will take place on Sunday, April 23rd at 2 p.m. in the UCAF / KUMF Gallery, 145 Evans Road in Etobicoke with the artist in attendance.
Spiritual and symbolic concepts inherent in Brian Waboose’s painting dedicated to Ukraine particularly the First Nations elders referred to in the title, the eagles, and eagle feathers against a blue and yellow background recognize and affirm the heroic struggle of Ukraine and its people fighting against Russian aggression. The Indigenous rider bearing the Ukrainian flag and the two feathers tied together are heralds of the forthcoming victory.
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