Feather Fringe Earrings

Project Introduction: The beautiful earrings featured in this project were created in celebration of Indigenous People's Day by Artist and Educator Naomi Smith. Naomi is an Indigenous Artisan and Educator from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation in Neyaashiinigmiing. For over 25 years Naomi has focused on sharing teachings about the Indigenous people of the Woodlands and Northeastern region from a historical and contemporary perspective often through the story of beads. Her work embraces ancestral designs in the form of bags, adornment and traditional accessories. Naomi's work has been exhibited across Canada and internationally. She has exhibited at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) (Smithsonian) in Washington DC and New York, the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives, Art Gallery of Guelph and participated in events throughout the year prior to the pandemic. Naomi’s artwork is in permanent collections at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, MA, The Art Gallery of Guelph, Schneider Haus, and private collections throughout the world. While many of her lectures and presentations are art themed, she also talks about the historic challenges facing indigenous peoples and how this narrative has affected her life journey. Naomi provides insight into her Indigenous world which is a unique blend of traditional teachings and colonial experiences.

Artist’s Statement: “Honouring our traditions is my voice within and beyond my Culture and Community. Traditionally there is no word for “art” in Native languages yet artistry and visual expression are critical in defining who we are as First Nations people. It is this path I wish to exemplify through my teachings and my work.”

“I was taught that we are all flowers in the Great Spirits garden. We share a common root, and the root is Mother Earth. The garden is beautiful because it has different colors in it, and those colors represent different traditions and cultural backgrounds."