Michael Patten (Zagime Anishinabek First Nation, Cree)
Director General and President
Michael Patten (b. 1977) is a contemporary visual artist based in Montreal and a member of the Zagime Anishinabek First Nation in Saskatchewan. He holds a B.F.A. in painting and a B.F.A. in drawing with a minor in art history from the University of Regina and he has participated in solo and group exhibitions internationally and nationally in museums, artist run centers, commercial spaces, and university galleries. In 2017, he was one of the Laureates for the Hnatyshyn Foundation’s REVEAL- Indigenous Art Awards. And he is presently the Director of the Contemporary Native Art Biennial in Montreal – a nonprofit organization with a mandate to recognize and support contemporary Indigenous art and artists.
Nico Williams (Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Ojibwe)
Member of the board
Nico Williams (b. 1989) is Anishinaabe from Aamjiwnaang First Nation currently working in Tiohtià:ke | Mooni-yang | Montreal. He has a multidisciplinary, often collaborative practice that is centered around sculptural beadwork. Combining bright colours, complex patterning and symbology, the works create narratives about Indigenous knowledge systems and experiences in order to educate people about the current realities in both urban and rural communities. Nico recently exhibited work at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal as part of a group exhibition. He also facilitated and presented a community-based project at the PHI Foundation.
Eruoma Awashish (Atikamekw)
Member of the board
The Atikamekw artist Eruoma Awashish holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary arts from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. Her artistic approach aims to create spaces for dialogue to facilitate the understanding of First Nations culture. Having lived in the communities of Opitciwan, Wemotaci and Mashteuiatsh, Awashish has a strong sense of belonging to her culture. Her work speaks of “métissage” and metamorphosis, and is imbued with spirituality, symbolism and syncretism. In 2018, she participated in BACA (Contemporary Native Art Biennial) and presented an installation at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
MC Snow (Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, Kahnawà:ke)
Member of the board
MC Snow (1965-) is a Kanienkehaka artist living in Kahnawake near Montreal, QC. As part of her contribution to native arts, she belives it’s important to leave a legacy and teachings of our traditional crafts and methods to the next generation so that they will not be lost. Marian continues to learn, practice and pass on the skills of beadwork and craftwork and incorporates these skills into her contemporary pieces. The installations combine elements and techniques that culminate in a visual poetry evocative of the natural world and the socio-political adventures of trying to be heard from within the collective of the reservation.
Meky Ottawa (Manawan First Nation, Atikamekw)
Member of the board
Rhéal Olivier Lanthier
Founder