Simon Brascoupé

Simon Brascoupé, Anishinaabe/ Haudenosaunee – Bear Clan is a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, Maniwaki, Quebec living in Algonquin territory in Ottawa. He has completed public art including an Algonquin Birch Bark Basket sculpture at Abinan Place based on Algonquin Elders collaborative voices. He completed large murals for the Heart Institute, Ottawa and at Ojigkwanong Indigenous Student Centre, Carleton University. He recently completed two large public artworks for the Pimisi Station: Mamawi – Together paddle installation painted by 100 Algonquin artists, and Algonquin moose. His artistic vision is to have a significant presence in public art and institutions for Algonquin and Indigenous art and culture.

Simon’s artistic vision is to communicate traditional teachings and values through the continuity of imagery and narrative. Simon’s work has been exhibited in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan and Cuba. He is represented in the collections at the Canadian Museum of History and the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. and major corporate and private collections. He is presently in an exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada’s Canadian and Indigenous Art exhibition.

Simon Brascoupé’s work reflects his respect for the Algonquin Territory and land.  From his perspective, animals teach humans how to see the world through their eyes and actions. For example, Simon’s father taught him that the bear, when its wounded will use the sap from a pine or cedar tree as medicine. An Algonquin teaching is that even though the bear is large it lives lightly on the land. Aboriginal People traditionally have learned by listen and learn from the animal world and nature for their profound insight and knowledge. The ability to observe is central to the artist’s vision of living in harmony with nature.