Art Napoleon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Art Napoleon
Napoleon at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival
Background information
Also known as	Âciw Sunchild
Born	1961 (age 63–64) Moberly Lake, British Columbia
Origin	Moberly Lake, British Columbia
Genres	Country folk
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter actor author bush cook activist speaker
Instruments	Vocals guitar harmonica hand-drums
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Sunchild Records
Associated acts	The Napoleon Collective The Travelling Suns Quanah Style Niska Napoleon Zak Cohen Ed Peekeekoot

Art Napoleon is a talented artist from Victoria, British Columbia. He is known for his music, television shows, and books. Through his work, he teaches people about Indigenous foods, languages, and cultures.

He was also a leader for the Saulteau First Nation. Art Napoleon is a co-host of the cooking show "Moosemeat & Marmalade". He has also appeared in other shows that support Indigenous languages and cultures. He has released several music albums that have won awards.

Early Life and Learning

Art Napoleon was born in 1961 in the Saulteau First Nation. This community is located near Moberly Lake, British Columbia. His mother passed away when he was a baby.

His grandparents raised him and taught him many important skills. They taught him to speak the Cree language. They also taught him how to hunt and fish. He learned to cook from his grandmother and aunt. Art started working as a "bush cook" at age fifteen. This means he cooked outdoors, often in remote areas. Later, he studied at the University of Victoria. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Indigenous Language Revitalization. This degree focuses on bringing Indigenous languages back to life.

Career Highlights

Leadership and Advocacy

Art Napoleon was a former Chief of the Saulteau First Nation. He also helped as a cultural advisor for important discoveries in northeastern British Columbia. He led a training camp about First Nations traditions. This camp was organized by the Treaty 8 Tribal Association.

Art Napoleon was a key person in the efforts to protect land from the Site C dam. He joined meetings and signed a letter to important leaders. He also helped organize a protest camp called Rocky Mountain Fort. Art Napoleon and other elders believed that Treaty 8 had been ignored many times. They saw the dam as another example of this.

Television Work

Art Napoleon appeared in the children's TV show "Tiga Talks!". This show helped kids improve their language skills. It also introduced them to media in Indigenous languages. While filming, he met Dan Hayes, who was catering for the show.

Art had an idea for a cooking show that would mix his outdoor "bush cooking" with a trained chef's style. He shared this idea with Dan Hayes. This led to the creation of "Moosemeat & Marmalade". The first season was filmed in 2015. It received funding from several organizations, including the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

The show features Art Napoleon's traditional cooking and Dan Hayes' British cooking style. They work together and sometimes compete. The show is still on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Art Napoleon translates each episode into Cree. Each episode takes place in a different community in Canada or the United Kingdom. Most of the food they cook is found by hunting, gathering, or fishing. Art often talks about protecting nature and getting food in a fair way. He is an important person in the movement for Indigenous food sovereignty. The first two seasons focused on hunting and gathering. Later seasons explored different types of food, like river food and seafood. The fourth season tried out new and experimental foods.

Music Journey

Art Napoleon released his first album, Outta the Woods, in 1995. His second album, Miyôskamin, came out in 2006. It was played on CBC radio and won two Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards.

In 2008, he released Mocikan: Songs for Learning Cree. This album was nominated for best children’s recording. His fourth album, Siskabush Tales, was also released in 2008. It won awards for best country album and best folk/acoustic album. In 2010, Art Napoleon released Creeland Covers, an album of cover songs.

Family Life

Art Napoleon has two sons and four daughters. His son, Julian Napoleon, works to protect nature and caribou. His daughter, Niska Napoleon, is a musician and speaks out about important social issues. His daughter, Quanah Style, is also a musician, actor, and dancer. She advocates for two-spirit people and drag artists. Niska and Quanah, along with their father, formed a music group called The Napoleon Collective. They released an album together in 2012.

Film and TV Appearances

Books Written

Non-fiction

• The NESA Activities Handbook for Native and Multicultural Classrooms (2010), ReadHowYouWant.com ISBN: 978-1-458-78301-1
• Dancing Towards the Sky: David Meeko's Journey with AIDS (1998), Twin Sisters Publishers ISBN: 978-0-969-65098-0

Music Albums

Studio albums

• Outta the Woods (1995)
• Miyôskamin (2006)
• Mocikan: Songs for Learning Cree (2008)
• Siskabush Tales (2008)
• Creeland Covers (2010)

With the Napoleon Collective

• The Napoleon Collective (2012)

Radio Shows

• The Dead Dog Café Comedy Hour (1997-2000)

See also

• Cree
• Site C dam
• Indigenous music of North America
• Indigenous music of Canada
• List of people from British Columbia