Creative Manitoba Coaches: Albert McLeod, Indigenous Protocols in Art

Summary

Albert MacLeod, of Scottish and Northern Cree descent, discusses decolonizing as creating safe spaces for indigenous storytelling. Based in Winnipeg, he works on indigenous knowledge, language, and cultural reclamation, particularly from the Ojibwe perspective. MacLeod collaborates with an Ojibwe language mentor and serves as an independent artist and cultural facilitator, guiding artists through history to understand indigenous values and expressions. He emphasizes the importance of humor, accuracy, and community engagement in art and life, encouraging aspiring indigenous artists to embrace their ancestral gifts and use them creatively.

Takeaways

• 🌱 **Decolonizing**: It's about creating safe spaces for indigenous people to share their stories and understand their cultural expressions.
• 👤 **Albert MacLeod**: A cultural facilitator and artist from Palm, Manitoba, with Scottish and Northern Cree ancestry, focusing on indigenous knowledge and language reclamation.
• 🏡 **Living in Winnipeg**: Albert has been living in Winnipeg for 40 years, working with an Ojibwe language mentor and focusing on indigenous perspectives in culture, philosophy, spirituality, and healing.
• 🎨 **Art in Family History**: Art has been a part of Albert's family history, and he continues this tradition as an independent artist and cultural facilitator.
• 🌟 **Creative Manitoba**: Albert has been with Creative Manitoba for several years, presenting workshops and helping with ceremonies like smudging and teachings.
• 🔄 **Interweaving Art and Culture**: Albert's work involves using art to transmit indigenous knowledge and understanding the historical context of indigenous art and its importance for land-based survival and culture transmission.
• 🌐 **Engaging with Non-Indigenous Community**: He helps non-indigenous artists understand complex social norms and protocols for engaging with indigenous people and building good relationships.
• 🌱 **Decolonizing Process**: It requires stepping out of comfort zones, engaging with the community, and being patient in building relationships over time.
• 🗣️ **Importance of Protocols**: Indigenous culture relies on spiritual guidance, and protocols are crucial for engaging with the spiritual world and maintaining a balanced perspective.
• 😄 **Enjoyment and Humor**: Life and art should be joyful and fun, and patience is key to understanding that progress may not always follow a predetermined schedule.
• 📚 **Accuracy and Research**: It's essential to conduct thorough research and engage with the community to understand social norms and gain accurate knowledge about indigenous groups.
• 🆕 **New Knowledge**: There's always new knowledge to be discovered in indigenous history, which predates colonization by thousands of years, offering fresh insights and experiences.
• 🎭 **Aspiring Indigenous Artists**: Carry the inherent gifts passed down by ancestors and use them in art disciplines, as they are part of one's DNA and identity.

Q & A

What does the term 'decolonizing' mean in the context of the transcript?

Decolonizing refers to the process of making space for indigenous people to share their stories safely and to ask questions about their expressions and descriptions.

Who is Albert MacLeod and where is he originally from?

Albert MacLeod is a person of Scottish immigrant and Northern Cree ancestry, originally from Palm, Manitoba.

What is Albert MacLeod's current focus in Winnipeg?

Albert MacLeod is currently focusing on indigenous knowledge, language, cultural reclamation, primarily from the Ojibwe perspective.

How long has Albert MacLeod been with Creative Manitoba?

Albert MacLeod has been with Creative Manitoba for about four or five years.

What is Albert MacLeod's role within the indigenous community?

Albert MacLeod works as an independent artist and cultural facilitator, focusing on indigenous perspectives on culture, philosophy, spirituality, and healing.

What does Albert MacLeod do to help artists understand the history of indigenous knowledge and expression?

Albert MacLeod helps artists understand the history by providing a pathway from pre-contact times to the colonial period and the recent indigenous resurgence.

How does Albert MacLeod engage with the non-indigenous community?

Albert MacLeod engages with the non-indigenous community by explaining complex social norms and protocols for engaging with indigenous people and fostering good relationships.

What advice does Albert MacLeod give for decolonizing art and culture?

Albert MacLeod advises stepping outside of comfort zones, engaging with the community, being patient, clear about intentions, and understanding that it's a learning process over time.

What does Albert MacLeod emphasize as important in indigenous culture?

Albert MacLeod emphasizes the importance of humor, enjoying life, and the spiritual realm in guiding actions in indigenous culture.

What are the three key pieces of advice Albert MacLeod gives for engaging with indigenous art and culture?

Albert MacLeod advises to have fun, be accurate and well-researched, and to understand that there is always new knowledge to be discovered.

What does Albert MacLeod suggest for aspiring indigenous artists?

Albert MacLeod suggests that aspiring indigenous artists carry inherent gifts from their ancestors and should use those gifts to express their point of view about life in their chosen art discipline.

How does Creative Manitoba support Albert MacLeod's work?

Creative Manitoba provides a vehicle and support for Albert MacLeod's work, allowing him to balance community development with creative outlets.