Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. facts for kids

The Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporation (PNIAI) was a special group of First Nations and Indigenous artists. They came from Canada, with one artist from the United States. This group started in November 1973. Their main goal was to show their amazing art in the regular art world.

They were often called the Indian Group of Seven. Now, they are known as the Indigenous Group of Seven. This name was a nod to the Group of Seven. That was another famous Canadian art group from the early 1900s.

The seven artists in the PNIAI were Daphne Odjig, Alex Janvier, Jackson Beardy, Eddy Cobiness, Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray and Joseph Sanchez.

History of the Artists' Group

How the Group Started

In 1972, three of the artists, Jackson Beardy, Alex Janvier, and Daphne Odjig, had an art show in Winnipeg. It was called Treaty Numbers 23, 287 and 1171. The name referred to the Numbered Treaties linked to their home communities. This show helped bring modern Indigenous art to a wider Canadian audience. It showed their work as serious fine art, not just crafts.

After this successful show, Daphne Odjig worked hard to bring the artists together. At her home in Winnipeg, she invited Alex Janvier, Jackson Beardy, Eddy Cobiness, Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray, and Joseph Sanchez. They met to talk about their shared interests and challenges in the art world. They officially formed their group in November 1973.

Forming the PNIAI

These meetings helped the artists feel like a community. They could also share ideas and give feedback on each other's art. In November 1973, they decided to make their group official. They called it the Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporation (PNIAI). They hoped to get funding from the Department of Indian Affairs. All seven members officially registered the PNIAI in February 1974.

A Haida artist named Bill Reid was also considered part of the group. He joined some of their shows, even though he didn't formally sign on.

The "Indian Group of Seven" Nickname

A reporter from the Winnipeg Free Press, Gary Scherbain, gave the PNIAI its famous nickname. He called them the "Indian Group of Seven." This was a reference to the original Group of Seven. That earlier group painted Canadian landscapes in a style called impressionistic during the 1920s and 1930s.

The PNIAI held many group exhibitions across Canada. The last show where all seven artists participated was in Montreal in 1975. The group officially ended that same year.

Later Exhibitions of Their Work

Years later, in 2013, the MacKenzie Art Gallery created a big traveling art show. It was called 7: Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. The show was put together by Michelle LaVallee (Nawash Ojibway). It traveled to museums across Canada for several years. A special book was also made about the exhibition.

In March 2020, Gallery Gevik, an art gallery in Toronto, Canada, also held an exhibition. This show focused on all seven members of the group. It was called Professional Native Indian Artists Inc.

Goals and Impact of the PNIAI

What the Artists Wanted to Achieve

The PNIAI artists worked together to promote Aboriginal art in the wider art world. They had strong ideals about changing how people viewed their art. They wanted people to focus on the "artistic" value of their work. They wanted it to be seen as important art, not just "Native" art.

Their main goals were:

• To create a fund to help artists paint and create more art.
• To find good art galleries to show and sell their work.
• To visit Aboriginal communities to inspire young artists.
• To set up a trust fund using some of the money from art sales. This fund would offer scholarships for new artists.

These were big goals for their time. Aboriginal people had only recently gained voting rights in Canada. They were also fighting for their civil rights. The PNIAI was part of a larger movement for change. Another group, the "Triple K Co-operative Incorporated", a Native-run silk-screen organization, started around the same time.

Their Lasting Impact

Even though the PNIAI group was together for only a short time, their efforts were very important. They helped shape the idea of Indigenous Native art as a key part of Canadian culture. The group paved the way for younger generations of artists. Thanks to them, more Indigenous art is now professionally recognized and celebrated.