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.
Anishinaa-bae
This piece was designed in an old school Anishinaabe woodland style. Featuring a women's jingle dress and men's woodland style regalia outifts.
Talking with my nokomis
Do you know what I talk to my Nokomis about? This piece was created to present the relationship between me as Anishinaabe Kwe and my relationship with my late Gokum.
Old style
As Anishinaabe we have generations of different style of art. As I was creating I was thinking a lot about the different types of flowers there are in my home territory and I wanted to showcase a strong Ojibway identity in the piece.
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.
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.
GEO's and Florals
This set was created with delicate and fine SHEEN beads, with a unique sparkle. This set was inspired by the collab of the geometric and floral designs that Anishinaabeg people have been using for centuries.
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.
Old Style Jingle
Anishinaabe woodland Jingle dress dancer. This piece was one my first adorned designs, that made its way across Turtle Island. Designed in 2020.
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.
MEDICINE POUCH
I like to use an ombré of colours and designs of Ojibway florals in my work. I created this piece in June 202 on white velvet. Made of Czech seed beads and charlottes. With satin ribbon and cow hide.