Aaniin, Ocean Kiana is an Nishinaabe woodland style artist from North Western Ontario raised by the Martiarchs of her family. Her Nishinaabe name is Waabshki Memegwans, meaning White Butterfly.
Ocean Kiana has a skill set of beading, sewing, drawing and painting.
The land is beautiful
I created this piece in February 2022, inspired by my homelands in Biigtigong Nishnaabeg and Netmizaagamig Nishnaabeg. I went on multiple canoe trips during my youth, I cherish these times that I was able to spend on the land with my cousins and relatives. We worked on multiple projects rooted in the reclamation of our traditional highways and renaming of the land in our traditional language.
This piece can be viewed at Park’s Canada Rouge Park in Toronto, ON.
Men’s Wear
The Red men’s dress shirt at IEW at First Nation’s House Fashion show, November 2023.
The RED midnight
The RED midnight dress, worn by the beautiful Natasha Fisher. The remix of the original Midnight Dress
Ojibway Scrub
The show stopper at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. A reflection of my identity as an Ojibway Kwe.
Anangokaa in the 6ix
A piece that represented my people, specifically the Ojibway, Nishinaabe. Our tribes and cultures are so distinct and unique between each nations. Nishinaabe tell our stories from the sky.
Trillium Midnight Medicine bag
This Trillium Midnight medicine bag was inspired by the long winter nights and the crisp white snow that covers Mother Earth. Anishinaabeg make bags out of wool and leather, with florals designs to hold their sacred items and medicines.
Dagwaagin Bag
This bag is a reflection of my time spent in the bush this past fall. The sound of the leaves falling while I sat with birds and the trees. Dark nights and surrounded by red and auburn colours.
WINTER SOLSTICE
These three skirts inspired by the relationships I have with my ancestors and the matriarchs who have come before me. Pieces named from left to right, Nokomis Camp skirt, Ancestor skirt, and the Winter Applique skirt.
Nishinaabe Kwe
Using language to represent our women on this traditional ribbon skirt, with the use of red to represent the MMIW.
Anishinaabe kwe
When we transition into different phases of our lives it's important to honour ourselves. I created this set to honour and gift myself for obtaining my Bachelor of Arts in Anishinaabe studies at Algoma University.
Raptors but make it woodland
I was inspired by the colours of the Raptors team uniforms. When I looked at one of my drawings of a woodland dancer, I thought I took a glimpse of a Raptors player in woodland gear. Then I looked again and realized that I needed to make it happen.
GROWING
I was processing a lot of what I have been through in this lifetime, all the pain, all the beauty, and the thorns we experience in this lifetime. How much we’ve grown and how we shape into beautiful beings and spirits.
Contact Me
Community Care
Community comes with supporting and nurturing each other when we need it. Mama bears raise and care for their cubs until it’s time to let them experience the world for themselves. Commission done for the Marathon Family Health Team.