Ursula Johnson facts for kids

Ursula Johnson (born in 1980) is a talented Mi’kmaq artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She creates art using many different forms. Her work mixes the traditional Mi’kmaq skill of basket weaving with sculpture, art installations, and performance art. Through her art, she teaches people about identity, history, traditions, and culture. In 2017, she won the important Sobey Art Award.

Early Life and Education

Ursula A. Johnson was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, in 1980. She grew up in Eskasoni First Nation, Cape Breton. This is known as the largest Mi’kmaq community in the world. Her great-grandmother, Caroline Gould, was a famous artist who taught Ursula how to weave baskets. Ursula also took part in a special meeting at the United Nations. There, she helped create the first group for Indigenous youth.

Ursula went to college after high school. She first studied Theatre Arts at the University of Cape Breton from 1998 to 2000. In 2002, she moved to Halifax to attend NSCAD University. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2006. Later, Johnson became the first Artist-in-residence at Cape Breton University. This means she was a special artist invited to work and teach there.

Basket Weaving as Art

Many of Ursula Johnson's art shows and performances feature basket weaving. She uses traditional Mi’kmaq methods and shapes. Johnson's basket weaving highlights how baskets have often been seen only as old artifacts. She wants people to see them as a living, ongoing part of Indigenous culture. Her work shows that baskets can be artifacts, things to buy, and beautiful art pieces all at once.

Some of her unique basket artworks were shown in O’pltek (It's Not Right). This was a solo show at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in 2011. In 2006, for a piece called "Nations in a Circle," she wove a basket around herself. This was her first time using traditional methods since moving away from her home community. It helped her explore her identity as an Indigenous artist living in a city. As part of her time at Cape Breton University, Johnson created and taught a course. It was called “The Role of the Mi’kmaw Basket in Contemporary Fine Craft.” She also taught basket weaving through NSCAD University's programs. Before her great-grandmother Caroline Gould passed away in 2011, Johnson organized a special art show. It was called Kloqowej (Star) and showed 30 years of Gould's amazing work.

Nocturne Art Projects

Ursula Johnson has created several projects for Nocturne: Art at Night. This is a yearly art festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It takes place from 6 PM to midnight.

Elmiet - 2010

For the 2010 Nocturne Festival, Johnson created a performance piece called Elmiet. This Mi’kmaq word means “to go home.” The performance brought attention to a difficult part of Nova Scotia's history. Johnson wore a special headpiece made with traditional Mi’kmaq basket weaving. It covered her eyes and went down her back like hair. She was led through downtown Halifax by a guide. The performance ended on the steps of the Grand Parade (Halifax).

Hot Looking - 2013

For Nocturne 2013, Johnson worked with Bert Milberg, a Pow Wow dancer. They created a performance in response to a music video. Milberg danced for six hours in a luxury shop window. He wore his full traditional clothing. He danced to the song on repeat and sometimes posed for people taking pictures. This performance showed how Indigenous cultures are sometimes copied or used for profit.

L'nuisimk: El-noo-wee-simk: Speaking Indian - 2018

For Nocturne 2018, Johnson and her partner, Angella Parsons, performed as their duo, Kinuk. They did three performances across Halifax and Dartmouth. They spoke to each other in their first languages. Johnson spoke Mi'kmaw and Parsons spoke English. Their conversations explored feelings and their surroundings.

Solo Art Shows

• 2023: "Emmitukwemk: The Visit." The Blue Building, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2021: "ITHA: The Livingroom." The Blue Building, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2018: "Ke'tapekiaq Ma'qimikew: The Land Sings / La terre chante." SBC Gallery, Montreal, Quebec
• 2018: "The Indian Truckhouse of High Art." Central Art Garage, Ottawa, Ontario
• 2017: "Mi'kwite'tmn (Do You Remember)." The Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
• 2015: "Mi'kwite'tmn (Do You Remember)." Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Charlottetown, PEI
• 2014: "Mi'kwite'tmn (Do You Remember)." College Art Gallery 1, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• 2014: "Mi'kwite'tmn (Do You Remember)." Saint Mary's University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2012: "L’nuk" (with Jordan A. Bennett). Anna Leonowens Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2011: "The Indian Truckhouse of High Art." Performance/installation in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2010: "O’pltek." Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario
• 2004: "Kepmidedamnej." NSCAD University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2003: "Ente’k." Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, Halifax Nova Scotia
• 2002: "Klo’ke’wej." Micmac Native Friendship Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Group Art Shows

• 2023: "Landscape and Stories." The Blue Building, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2021: "Soft Launch." The Blue Building, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2019: Àbadakone | Continuous Fire | Feu continuel. National Gallery of Canada Ottawa, Ontario
• 2018: "#callresponse." St. Mary's University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2018: "Nanabozho's Sisters." Dalhousie Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2017: "INSURGENCE/RESURGENCE." Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• 2017: UnSettled. Queer Arts Festival, Vancouver, BC
• 2017: "Landmarks2017."
• 2014: "Memory Keepers." Urban Shaman Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• 2014: "Making Otherwise: Craft and Material Fluency in Contemporary Art." Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
• 2013: "L'nuwelti'k." Festival jè-st, Moncton, New Brunswick
• 2013: "Aboriginal Voice: Four Artists from Atlantic Canada." Galerie d'art Louise et Reuben Cohen, Moncton, New Brunswick
• 2013: "Maqimikew Ketapiaq (The Land Sings)." AntigoNIGHT Festival, Antigonish, Nova Scotia
• 2013: "L'unwesimk:El-noo-wee-simk" (with Angella Parsons). Art in the Open Festival, Charlottetown, PEI
• 2013: "Ke Pite'm." Cape Breton University Art Gallery, Sydney, Nova Scotia
• 2012: The Indian Truckhouse of High Art. Awards. Celebration., Creative Nova Scotia Awards Celebration, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2012: L’nuwelti’k. Prismatic Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2012: Basket Weaving. Planet IndigenUS Festival Harbourfront Centre, Toronto Ontario
• 2012: Snapshot. Khyber Centre for the Arts, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2012: Material Wealth: Revealing Landscape. Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario
• 2011: Ancestral Teachings: Contemporary Perspectives. Thunderbird Centre, Toronto, Ontario
• 2011: Basket Weaving. Debajehmujig 6 Foot Festival, Manitowaning, Ontario
• 2010: Elmiet. Nocturne and Prismatic Arts Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2010: L’nuk. (With Jordan A. Bennett), The Other Gallery, Banff, Alberta
• 2010: Ka’kawej. Art in Public Spaces, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta
• 2009: Ke Pite’m. Time Will Tell Public Performance Series, Eye Level Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2009: Traditional Mi’kmaq Basketry. Tent Dwellers Canoe Festival, Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia
• 2009: Traditional Mi’kmaq Basketry. Treaty Day Aboriginal Arts Showcase, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2008: The Urban Aboriginal Guide to Halifax NS. Dalhousie University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2006: Untitled. Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2005: Traditional Storytelling Nations In A Circle. Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2003: Basket Weaving Nations In A Circle. Dalhousie Sculpture Court, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Awards and Recognition

Ursula Johnson has received several important awards for her art:

• 2019: Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award (for Moose Fence, 2017), Nova Scotia Masterworks
• 2017: Sobey Art Award (a very prestigious award for Canadian artists)
• 2017: REVEAL Indigenous Art Award, Hnatyshyn Foundation
• 2014: Aboriginal Traditional Art Forms Creation Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
• 2013: Grants to Individuals Presentation Grant, Arts Nova Scotia
• 2010: Grants to Individuals Presentation Grant, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture & Heritage
• 2010: Flying Eagle Program, Canada Council for the Arts
• 2010: Grants to Individuals Creation Grant, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture & Heritage
• 2009: Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange Travel Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
• 2008: Aboriginal Traditional Visual Art Forms Research Grant, Canada Council for the Arts

Community Involvement

Ursula Johnson is also involved in her community. On January 25, 2014, she performed a long song as a form of peaceful protest. A Mi’kmaq elder joined her. This performance was called “IKATK” (“She Protects”). They invited people to join them or show support. The protest lasted four hours at the Schulich School of Law in Halifax.

On May 22, 2009, Johnson took part in a UNICEF panel in New York, USA. The panel was about how Indigenous youth use online networks. Johnson was there as the Director of Kitpu Youth Centre. This center is at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax.