Naomi Smith (artist) facts for kids

Naomi Smith is a talented First Nations artist, teacher, and curator. She is well-known for creating beautiful traditional Indigenous beadwork. Naomi also helps people learn about the rich history behind this art form.

Early Life and Discovering Art

Naomi Smith was born in Kitchener, Ontario. She is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. When she was a baby, Naomi was part of a time known as the Sixties Scoop. This was when many Indigenous children were taken from their families. Naomi was adopted by a non-Indigenous family when she was just eight weeks old.

Her adoptive family encouraged her to explore her Indigenous heritage. Naomi started learning beadwork when she was only seven years old. As an adult, she reconnected with her birth mother, who was also an artist. They discovered they both shared a deep love for beadwork.

Naomi Smith's Beadwork

Naomi Smith was drawn to beadwork from a young age. She mostly taught herself this amazing art. Her artwork uses traditional methods and natural materials. These include sweet grass, birch bark, and porcupine quills. Her beautiful work was even featured at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Protecting Traditional Beadwork

Naomi is like a guardian of traditional beadwork. She collects and displays pieces in museums. This helps teach people about the history and meaning of this art. In 2014, Naomi organized her first art show. It was called Spirit Seeds: A Celebration of First Nations Beadwork. This show was held at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.

The exhibit featured beadwork from Naomi's own collection. It included old beaded bags and Iroquois smoking caps from the mid-1800s. The show also displayed new pieces by Naomi and other Indigenous artists. Besides creating her own art and curating shows, Naomi teaches workshops. These workshops focus on traditional Woodlands culture.

In 2018, Naomi was the Folk Artist-in-Residence at the Schneider Haus National Historic Site in Kitchener. During this time, she curated another exhibit. It was titled Baggage - Carrying On Between Two Worlds.