2017 Barbara Laronde Award Recipient

Native Women in the Arts is thrilled to announce the winner of the third annual Barbara Laronde Award: Lucille Atlookan.

Lucille AtlookanLucille Atlookan 

Lucille Atlookan is an Anishnaabe emerging artist and university student from Eabametoong First Nation who resides in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Atlookan is a multi-disciplinary artist who creates work in a variety of media such as beadwork, sculpture, and illustration.

Atlookan is in her second year of the Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts Major) Bachelor of Education, a double degree program, at Lakehead University. Her goals are to become a professional practicing artist and Indigenous language instructor and to continue her involvement in arts education for Indigenous youth.

Atlookan was selected from a number of applications from across Northern Ontario. Robyn Shepherd for the NWIA Board of Directors remarked: “Firstly we want to acknowledge that all the candidates were excellent. From Atlookan’s application we got the sense of a deep commitment to herself and to her art, that of which is excellent. She has strong motivation to succeed in her chosen field and she will set a tremendous example for others who will see a path to follow.”

NWIA is excited to support the continuing creative and professional achievements of Lucille Atlookan with a $1500 award, which will be presented with Barbara Laronde in Temagami on July 16th at 1pm, during the Deepwater Music Festival on the waterfront main stage.

For more information please visit: www.facebook.com/temagamideepwatermusicfestival/

For My LoveFor My Love, Lucille Atlookan

About the Barbara Laronde Award

The Barbara Laronde Award was created to honour the legacy of NWIA founder Sandra Laronde and her vision and commitment to Indigenous artists. It celebrates and acknowledges the career of one outstanding, emerging, Northern-Ontario based Indigenous female artist, recognizing the geographic and economic barriers that many northern artists face.

Sandra Laronde’s 19 years of leadership at NWIA paved the way for many Indigenous artists at various stages of their careers. The award is named after her mother, Barbara, who has been the backbone of her family and a leader in the Northern Ontario community, Temagami First Nation. Barbara inspired her children to be creative and entrepreneurial, and it is with this spirit that NWIA launched this award in 2015.

Trade ColonialismTrade Colonialism, Lucille Atlookan

About Deepwater Music Festival 

Hosted by the Temagami Artist Collective, the Deepwater Music Festival takes place this year July 15-16, 2017, at Temagami’s waterfront. This year’s lineup includes Wayne Potts, Duane Paul, John Shymko, Sam Depatie, Mimi O’Bonsawin Band, Esther Pennell, Eight Thunderbird Singers, David Laronde Band, and more. Festival wristbands include entry to the concurrent Temagami Canoe Festival.

For further information visit: www.temagamiartisticcollective.com

Self PortraitSelf Portrait, Lucille Atlookan

About Native Women in the Arts (NWIA)

Over 24 years, NWIA has delivered theatre, dance, music, and spoken word productions and published three books of Indigenous visual art and writing. We also produce a series of community-driven artist talks, leadership and cultural workshops, youth arts projects to audiences interested in arts, culture, and the advancement of Indigenous peoples.

For further information about NWIA visit nwia.ca or call 416-598-4078.

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