Indian Group Of Seven Essay

The Indian Group of Seven was a very influential and groundbreaking group of First Nations professional artists. The members of the group were Jackson Beardy, Eddy Cobiness, Norval Morriseau, Carl Ray, Joseph Sanchez, Daphne Odjig, and Alex Janvier. This circle was created in 1972 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Each artist of the Indian Group of Seven had a unique early life. On July 24, 1944 in Manitoba, Jackson Beardy was born. He was taken from his home, and attended residential school as a child. He abused alcohol, and later suffered lifelong health issues because of it. Carl Ray was born in Ontario in 1943. He attended a residential school, and left at the age of 15. He failed to life his life traditionally, as trapping and hunting were never properly taught to him. He met Norval Morriseau, and his artwork flourished. Alex Janvier was born in 1935. He was sent to a residential school in Alberta at a very young age. Janvier began to develop his artistic skills during school with permission. Alex Janvier completed postsecondary in 1960 at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary. Later, he began to teach at the University

They challenged the views of the government and other institutions, which depreciated the artwork and the First Nations culture as a whole. They were determined to increase opportunities for Aboriginal artists, and encourage them to follow their passions. Instead of being deprived of recognition in forms of exhibits, scholarships, awards, bursaries, etc., the Indian Group of Seven wanted to oppose this trend through their own artwork, and prove that artists deserved to be rewarded and recognized. When the group created exhibits in galleries, they captured the public’s attention. They donated the money collected in order to fund/create awards, scholarships, etc. The mainstream culture began to acknowledge the significance and beauty of First Nations