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 and she is of the Wolf Clan. On her home reserves Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Pic River First Nation) and Netmizaagamig Nishinaabeg (Pic Mobert First Nation) she grew up attending ceremonies, powwows, and being out on the land with her grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, mom and sister. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Anishinaabe Studies and Minor in Visual Arts from Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig.

Throughout high school she worked in her home community of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. Ocean worked heavily in her community in roles that held responsibilities of reclaiming the traditional highway that her ancestors use to journey on(the waterways). Her work started off centered around the revitalization of her two communities Nishinaabe languages and reclaiming of her traditional territory. Her time spent on the land has led her to being visual arts storyteller as an interdisciplinary artist who specializes in drawing, beading and design, with a primary focus in fashion design. 

 Her Anishinaabe territory, community, and identity has a strong influence in the art she creates consisting of viabrant colours, florals and woodland dancers. She gives her credit to the many Anishinaabe artists who came before her, who mentored and inspired her to be where she is today.

Ocean loves working within communities teaching art and sharing her knowledge through workshops. 

Ocean is a strong advocate for Indigenous people and a respected community member, who to date has been award two highly esteemed awards by Trent University: the “Louise Garrow Prize” from Peter Gzowski College and the First People’s House of Learning (2019) and the “Peter Gzowski Student Excellence Award” from Peter Gzowski College (2019). Ocean continues to advocate and work for her communities through her various art forms and community work. 

Education 

2022 Bachelor of Arts, Anishinaabe Studies, Minor Visual Art, Algoma University, Sault Ste Marie, ON

Exhibitions

2023, Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, Vancouver, BC

2023, First Nations House Fashion Show, Toronto, ON 

2023, Paris Fashion Week/Spotlight Fashion, Paris, France

2023 Scotiabank Arena, Welcome Toronto Creator Program, Toronto ON

2022 Algoma University Perplexity Group Exhibition, Sault Ste Marie, ON 

Public Art Murals

2022 Park’s Canada Rouge Beach, Placemakers, Toronto, ON

 

Works Produced 

2023, Love On The Brain x Paris Fashion Week Collection

2023 Anangokaa in the 6ix, Beadwork 

2023 Her two worlds meet, Digital

2023 Community Care, Acrylic 

2022 Winter Solstice Collection, 

2022 Winter Florals, Beadwork 

2022 Ode’min Mashkiki Pouch, Beadwork