Our 2010 award winning book; The Drum Calls Softly" I was the artist/illustrator. It was only the second Canadian book ever selected in thier 47 year history in this year of 2010.

The acknowledgement and critical acclaimed reviews it received are what all artists only dream and wish for. It was on a few short lists also.

I am truly honored and humbled that my art is appreciated by so many. My art is my legacy...aho

It is with great pride, this is my very first art book of 80 art works produced. The different art work covers throughout my three + decade art career, from 1992-2024, the changes of styles and of my growth as a First Nation artist from Canada.

   I had great teachers, elders and some of Canada`s greatest native artists fed me what I needed to know, taught me the do`s and don`t`s of the art world. A young couple who owned a native art gallery bought my art and sat me down, taught me the professional way to handle my work, within the art world. My elders taught me never to sell out myself/art or my native culture. I was a willing and a very good student and it helped me to become who I am today, a grateful, humble successful anishinaabe artist, three decades later...My art has been good to me, awards, museums, my work has gone all over the world, my art is my legacy...

   I dedicate this book to every beautiful elder, whether man or woman who ever took me under thier wing...aho. The true beauty is, even in my early 70`s, I still feel I have so much more to offer before my time is finish here on Mother Earth.

                                      All My Relations...

   For over 20 years I wanted to write this book, only the title and design are different. But this is what it was truly meant to be.

   It is about my life story, the up`s and downs but over coming what ever life sent my way. From when I was a small child in foster care, street life or to live my dreams as a small child to being a professional native artist. Traveling around the world, learning and growing on every level, doing what I loved most.

    Over coming my learning difficulties, living in a systemic racist society throught my childhood and adult life in Canada. Understanding what the residential school system and the welfare scoop, how it distoryed my blood family and my personal life. But through the traditional native healing teachings given in native healing center, I broke the cycle of dysfunctional life style that came with the colonial assimilation that I went through. I never blamed my natural blood family but the dark historic colonialism system, we were all forced to live and adapt to.

    This is a positive, healing story meant for all, young and old, it also crosses all cultural barriors. I use my life as an example, to show if I can be successful and happy, then anyone can.

     I say that my art opened all the doors of life that needed to be opened. I got to live my promise as that scared five year old, to be a artist and to find happiness, I succeeded in both. I worked as a native dancer, artist, storyteller, both in Canada and Europe. Later my gift of writing and my poetry came, I started my journey as a author in my 60`s and I believe it is a great way to finish the end of my career. To leave my legacy...

    All my life all I wanted was to be excepted but mostly loved. I have found both, married to my sweet wife Kathleen Poitras. I dedicate this book to her. I am truly am the happiest I have ever been in my Golden Age Time. I have come full circle...  

On Feb. 9th 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada has recently confirmed the validity of An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth, and families. That First Nations communities have to the right to decide what happens to our own children. That is historical but reality is this process may take years if not decades to become the new normal. The systemic colonial Canadian system is not ready and it will be a long process, making the change needed.

   As a child who went through this systemic system, it warms my heart that this happen but the damage has been done. Luckly for me, I went to a native healing center, to heal the pain and scars it left. But this is for all of us suviviors of the Welfare Scoop and to protect our children of today and our future generations...aho

   Important note; This will be my story but I will shre stories told to me throughout my life and art career. So, it is also the story of hundreds of thousands of Native/Metis/Inuit children forced into the non-native foster care system throughout Canada. Throughout my three plus decade art career as a native storyteller, I have dedicated my life speaking on behalf of all native children. I feel that change that needed to happen has finally happen. For many decades our children like myself and my siblings were taken by force and put into the non-native foster care system. I have always said in public; "This is not a feel sorry story, it is my reality...". What this did to me and my personal life, the damage it caused me emotionally and psychologically. Feelings abandoned, unwanted, ashamed, angry, wondering  who I was and why this happened to me. Not knowing how a true family felt or being part of a family unit, that many others just take for granted. This ruling by The Supreme Court of Canada is historical and long over due, but finally it is law now only to inforce it. During my early career in Canada because I was talking about us children stolen and forced into foster care , it made both non-native and native political people very nervous. I payed a price for this but it was never truly about me, it was about all of our native children. Nothing has changed for me, even if I am now in my 70`s. I am happy for the people but specially for our children and families. I feel that our/my voice has finally been heard of those of us who were stolen and taken by force into welfare system throughout Canada and out side also. Alot of terrible things happened from abuse of all kinds to even death. Let alone the trauma of loss of blood family and culture, feeling alone and abandomed, that keeps going through generation after generation. We have alot of hard work ahead of us to fix what is wrong and broken, but at least now we can start the healing process...

                                                                                                 For our children...aho

I wrote this educational book because I truly felt there is huge need for it. Throughout the educational systems and health systems, every where. To educate families young or old to understand what dyslexica truly means. It is a story of over coming all obstales that life brings a child or adult who deals with dyslexica. I am living proof that one can follow their dreams dispite being dyslexic, just believe in yourself and work hard...

As a young child I was teased or spoken to badly, who I was and who I was not. I was as told all to often by all that I was not intelligent, lazy, even retarded, that I would never amount to anything for being native, I was only different, with gifts and special needs. I wrote this book for educational reasons only, to show that you are not alone. And also to educate the uneducated...

Dyslexica is misunderstood within the educational system and the medical fields. With dyslexic children/people, no one person is the same, but are highly intellectional with many different gifts. In the arts, business world, understanding what many others can not see.(check in the internet and see how many famous people who are dyslexic).

 I use my life as an example, that being dyslexic I have become successful and have a full life. To show that anyone can achieve their dreams of what they want in life.

I dedicate this book to my late mother, Nora Poitras. Who I never had the chance to have a life with her, as mother and son. To show her in spirit with love, that her son is ok and happy. That I am living my dreams...

   I started to write my poetry in the mid 1990`s, my very first healing poem published was "Little Jimmy...".  Around 2010 I started write agian and by 2014, l was writing my poetry almost daily. The words would just poured out and it has never stopped...

   I realized that writing down my thoughts and feelings, it was truly healing. Ever since I met Kathleen who later became my wife, it was her who inspired all my love poems. So I have dedicated this book; "Words of Love..." to my dear sweet wife, Kathleen Poitras...

   Throughout my life I often wondered if I would ever be this happy in a committed marriage/relationship. In my 60`s I found out that is possible and it actually happened to me. Kathleen is the kindest, most caring, compassionate, honest, funny and reliable woman I have met. I feel fortunate and blessed she is in my life...

   It is often thought that we men have no feelings or are able to express our deepest feelings or thoughts...we can. We are really no different from women actually, when expression of love and affection, makes us better men and mates.

   So truly I hope that this book brings many hours, days or nights of passion for who ever reads "Words of Love..." Love and passion truly walk hand in hand forever...

                                    All My Relations...

   Children have been the foundation of my art career, to be a spokes person for those who can`t. To let them know they are not alone and that there are adults who truly care for their welfare.

   I have worked with children for over three decades, in the education system, festivals. From kindergarten to university to old age pensioners. But I admit that I prefer to work with children, they are much more open to learning or for change. One of the teachings I share with them is; "When you point your finger at someone, passing judgement...remember that you have three pointing back at yourself" so " How really has the problem?" Children see the clear teaching right away and understand it to change thier own behaviour. Most adults unfortunately have blinders on and lack of trust or openness.

    Children are much more open to love, respect, compassion and forgiveness. They are willing to learn and see the magic and the beauty around them, To explore the unknown, to seek knowledge, without borders. This is the true beauty of a child.

    I tell children, that every child that they are important, they are our futures, I see the twinkle in thier eyes of appreciation. So it is much love and respect that I dedicate this book, to all the children, because they are our future. So we adults need to be good teachers...

    The pure joy and sense of pride my working with children for so many years, has been my pleasure.

    The traditional men and women elders say; "This is not for us, this for the children, their children and for the future generations and the generations yet to be born..." aho

                                         All My Relations...

 There are thousands of our stories untold, this is mine. I was raised in the non-native foster care system, part of the welfare scoop.

   This is not a feel sorry story, it is my reality, this book is a perfect way to share my story that is a similar story for thousands of native children and adults alike. In the ancient times, long before any outsiders ever stepped foot on the land. There were 500 different nations who lived apond Turtle Island, known in modern times as North America. When our ancestors lived for thousands of years on the land, living in harmony with Mother Earth.

   But that all changed when the first invaders came, this life style changed forever. The elders say, for them it was all about the land, waht was under it and what was on top of it. Enough was never enough and the indian wars lasted for centuries until the late 1800`s. Hundreds of millions of native people died of all ages during these dark times. Residental schools came to be where our children were forced to attend. Then what is now known as the welfare scoop took place, when thousands of our babies and children were forced into non-native families. It was know as assimiliation, to take the indian out of the indian. Genealogical genocide that destoryed many generations of our communities.

   In the last half century, our people woke up from the bad dream. Our elders said,we have to stand up for our culture and future generations and for the generations yet to be born. The youth and our communities are educating themsleves and healing in the process. Elders taught me, with change comes pain. Education is the key...All My Relations...

   I have met thousands of people and have heard thousands of stories. Each was abit different but with one thing in commen, all were on thier healing journey...

   Though I worked within the First Nation culture, so many people from different cutlures came and shared thier stories to me. Spiritual healing crosses all cultural barriors from wars, sexual, mental and physical abuse. Abuse is abuse...

    Words cut deep, far worse than any knife can. I have often told people, bad situations that happen in our childhood, can last a life time. Many adults forget they too were once a child.

     This book is for young and old alike, dedicate to all who are on their healing journey. "Healing is a journey not a destination", once you understand this, the journey gets so much easier...All My Relations...