Noëlla McKenzie
Noëlla McKenzie is an Anicinabe artist and craftswoman originally from Pikogan, and Cree through her grandmother. For 30 years, she has been a foster home for adults in mental health and disability, while working on her art from home.
Her passion for traditional crafts began when she was a child, in a difficult context where she had to hide her indigenous identity because of the bullying she experienced. Today, Noëlla is proud of her culture and heritage, and has been practicing traditional crafts more seriously for the past 8 years.
She draws much of her inspiration from her environment and her family, especially her father, who makes paddles, and her brother, who crafts tomahawks. It was he who encouraged Noëlla to paint on these objects, an experience that spurred her on to develop her talents. She also learned to work with the antlers she collected herself, cutting them up, painting them and transforming them into unique objects. To do this, she invested in specialized tools and immersed herself in self-taught learning. She also uses bear claws and porcupine quills in her creations.
In addition to painting tomahawks and plumes, Noëlla creates necklaces, earrings, bracelets, key rings and dreamcatchers, and wishes to learn how to make moccasins, a project she is making a reality with the help of a family member.
As a creative and productive person, she participates in 3 to 4 exhibitions a year, including artisan markets and events in and around Val-d’Or. You can find her creations in local boutiques such as La belle folie, at the Val-d’Or tourist information kiosk boutique or directly on her Facebook page. Noëlla firmly believes in the spiritual power of her creations, which include dreamcatchers.
Throughout her career, Noëlla has asserted herself as an Anicinabekwe. Today, she devotes herself more seriously to traditional crafts, with the inspiration and support of her family, especially her father, who is delighted to see his daughter perpetuating these ancestral skills. Noëlla also enjoys photography, and has even inspired her father to take up handicrafts, as he dreams of making tikinagan.
Noëlla speaks Anicinabe, the language of her people, and fondly remembers conversations with her mother, as well as her recently deceased uncle. Today, she continues to nurture her cultural roots while passing on her skills to future generations, so that they, like her, can flourish in traditional craftsmanship.
If you come across Noëlla at an exhibition, don’t hesitate to talk to her. You’ll see that she has a great sense of sharing, and it’s a pleasure to hear her talk about her inspirations.
