Christi Belcourt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christi Belcourt CM
Christi Belcourt as an Artist in Residence at the McMichael Art Gallery, Kleinburg, Ontario, 2004
Born	1966 (age 58–59) Scarborough, Ontario
Occupation	Painter

Christi Marlene Belcourt CM (born September 24, 1966) is a Canadian artist and writer. She is famous for her acrylic paintings. These paintings show beautiful floral patterns. They are inspired by the traditional beadwork art of Métis and First Nations communities. Belcourt's art often explores ideas about who we are, our culture, and our connection to the land.

About Christi Belcourt's Life

Christi Belcourt was born in Scarborough, Ontario. Her father, Tony Belcourt, was a well-known Métis rights activist. Her family has roots in a place called Manitou Saskhigan, also known as Lac Ste. Anne, in Alberta.

Christi has a brother, Shane Belcourt, who is a writer and director. He made a film called Tkaronto about Métis and First Nations people living in cities. Her sister, Suzanne Belcourt, is a graphic designer. In 1970, Christi's family moved to Ottawa, Ontario, when her father became the first president of the Native Council of Canada.

As a Métis artist, Christi deeply respects the traditions of her people. Much of her art celebrates the beauty of nature. She has written three books, and her artwork has been used on the covers of many other books. Two documentaries have featured her work: So Much Depends Upon Who Holds The Shovel (2008) and A Life in Balance (2012).

Her art is displayed in important places like the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of History. She has also received awards from groups like the Canada Council for the Arts. Today, Christi lives in Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta.

Christi Belcourt's Community Work

Christi Belcourt is very active in her community. She started a special art project called Walking With Our Sisters in 2012. This project remembers and honors missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada and the United States. Many volunteers help this project travel to different communities across North America.

In 2014, Belcourt helped create The Onaman Collective. This group works to protect traditional knowledge, languages, and teachings. Christi has also spoken out about the need for Métis land and for bringing back Indigenous languages. The Onaman Collective connects young Indigenous people with elders and knowledge keepers. They also work to protect water, especially the Great Lakes. They even made banners that people can download and use at events to support water and land protection.

Belcourt also supported the "blue dot" movement in 2014. This movement used blue dots on photos to show protest against government decisions. The dots represented people who felt left out of important conversations by the Canadian Government.

In 2016, Christi asked for her name to be removed from the Métis Nation of Ontario's registry. She disagreed with the organization's deals with mining companies.

Starting in 2017, Belcourt helped create the 150 Acts of Resistance project. This project aimed to share stories about colonialism and Indigenous resistance in Canada. It offered a different view than the Canadian government's "Canada 150" celebration.

Her Amazing Artwork

Painting Style

Christi Belcourt creates large acrylic paintings that look like traditional beadwork. She uses tiny dots with her brush to create this effect. Her paintings are full of colorful flowers, insects, birds, and other animals. Each painting tells a story.

For example, in 2014, she painted Offerings and Prayers for Genebek Ziibing. This painting was inspired by stories about pollution from uranium mines in Elliot Lake. From 1955 to 1978, waste from these mines was dumped into lakes and rivers. This pollution harmed the water and the people living there. Christi created this painting to raise awareness about these environmental problems.

Stained Glass Art

In 2012, Belcourt created a stained glass window called Giniigaaniimenaaning (looking ahead). This artwork is in the Parliament of Canada. It is part of Canada's apology for its residential schools. The window includes a picture from a residential school. The shattered glass in the artwork shows how the silence around residential schools was broken. It also represents the hope for healing and understanding for the future.

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

• Urban Myths: Aboriginal Artists in the City, Karsh-Masson Gallery (2000)
• Lessons from the Earth, Thunder Bay Art Gallery (2003/2004)
• New Works By Christi Belcourt, Metis Nation of Ontario Annual General Assembly (2005)
• Great Metis of My Time, Batoche National Historic Site (2008)
• Off The Map & Great Metis of My Time, Urban Shaman Gallery (2008)
• Off The Map, ArtSpace Gallery (2008)
• Identity, Land & Spirit, Red Shift Gallery (2009)
• Mapping Routes: Perspectives of Land and Water in Ontario, Thunder Bay Art Gallery (2010)

Group Exhibitions

Permanent Artworks

• Giniigaaniimenaaning, a stained glass window that honors survivors of Indian Residential Schools. It is located in the Centre Block, Parliament of Canada (2012).
• The Christi Belcourt Permanent Collection Room at the Gabriel Dumont Institute (2013).

Other Artistic Projects

• Christi Belcourt designed the medals for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games.
• In 2015, her drawing "Water Song" was used as a design for a clothing line by Valentino.
• In 2017, she worked with ela Handbags to create special limited-edition handbags. These bags featured prints that looked like her paintings.

Awards and Recognition

Christi Belcourt has received many awards and grants for her artistic work. Some of these include:

• Metis Cultural Grant Recipient, Metis Nation of Ontario (1998)
• Emerging Artist Grant, Ontario Arts Council and Canadian Council for the Arts (1999, 2000)
• First place, Mixed Media, LaCloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls, Ontario (2004)
• Aboriginal Arts Projects Grant Recipient, Ontario Arts Council (2004)
• Mid-Career Artist Grant Recipient, Ontario Arts Council (2004)
• Judges Choice Award, Works on Paper Exhibit, Espanola, Ontario (2006)
• Aboriginal People's Collaborative Exchange Program, Canada Council For The Arts (2007)
• Northern Arts Grant Recipient, Ontario Arts Council (2007)
• Aboriginal Arts Projects Grant and Aboriginal Traditional Arts Program, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council (2009)
• Chalmers Family Fund, Ontario Arts Council (2010)
• Influential Women of Northern Ontario, Aboriginal Leadership Award (2014)
• Aboriginal Arts Award 2014 Laureate, Ontario Arts Council (2014)
• Art Gallery of Ontario People's Choice Award for "The Wisdom of the Universe" acrylic painting (2015)
• Governor General's Innovation Award (2016)
• Ontario Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts, Individual Artist Award (2016)
• Order of Canada (2024)
• Commemorative Stamp, Canada Post (2024)

See also

• Aboriginal Canadian personalities