About the Oshkibewis/Facilitator
Isaac Murdoch
Bomgiizhik (Isaac Murdoch) is from Serpent River First Nation Nation. He is of the Fish Clan and is Ojibwe. He has 4 beautiful children. He currently lives in the forest at Nimkii Aazhibikoong, a indigenous community that focuses on indigenous language, art, and land based activities. Being blessed with the opportunity, Bomgiizhik grew up in the traditional setting of hunting and gathering on the land. Having spent many years learning from Elders, he spends a lot of his time as a Story Teller. Many of those stories become his visual art pieces which have become recognized world wide. Bomgiizhik is also a Singer Song Writer who loves to make music when ever he gets a chance. You will often find him on the land looking at his favourite plants or gazing into the beautiful night sky.
Bomgiizhik (Revolving Sky) Genaabaajing njibaa. Giigoonhan doodeman. Ojibwe aawi. Niiwin gwenaajiwinjin wdaansan wda'aawaan. Nongo megwaa daa mtigwaakiing. Minkii Aazhibikoong, Nishanaabekiing enaagdoot Nishinaabemowin miinwaa mzinbiigeng, ngoj-go-gegoo baa nankiing maakiing. Aapji gii-mnaabewzi, Bomgiizhik gii-bi-kogid, ghkendangwaa zhi-nishnaabe maadzid, gi-giiwse, gii-zgaktaaso, gegookiing edinand. Aashi gaa-bi-kenoomaagzid getsinjin gii-bi-ghkendmaad niibna nso-boon, miinongo maanda enakiid, aadsookewnini aawi. Niibnaa go kinda dbaajmowininan gashtoonanwii-mzinbii'and ezhiwaambdvng, miidash gonda mzinbiiganag kina mziwi king ewaambjigaazjig. Bomgiizhik ge'e ngomwinan ezhtoojindo-ngamnan, miinwaa doo-zhibii'aanan. Aapji go bishgendaan maandqa nankid, pii gwa zhised. Naangodnong syaakyoojin waawaaskoneyan maage datganaabit oodi gnawaambdang gwenaajwinik, gwenaajwang dibik giizhik.
Isaac Murdoch
Bomgiizhik (Isaac Murdoch) is from Serpent River First Nation Nation. He is of the Fish Clan and is Ojibwe. He has 4 beautiful children. He currently lives in the forest at Nimkii Aazhibikoong, a indigenous community that focuses on indigenous language, art, and land based activities. Being blessed with the opportunity, Bomgiizhik grew up in the traditional setting of hunting and gathering on the land. Having spent many years learning from Elders, he spends a lot of his time as a Story Teller. Many of those stories become his visual art pieces which have become recognized world wide. Bomgiizhik is also a Singer Song Writer who loves to make music when ever he gets a chance. You will often find him on the land looking at his favourite plants or gazing into the beautiful night sky.
Bomgiizhik (Revolving Sky) Genaabaajing njibaa. Giigoonhan doodeman. Ojibwe aawi. Niiwin gwenaajiwinjin wdaansan wda'aawaan. Nongo megwaa daa mtigwaakiing. Minkii Aazhibikoong, Nishanaabekiing enaagdoot Nishinaabemowin miinwaa mzinbiigeng, ngoj-go-gegoo baa nankiing maakiing. Aapji gii-mnaabewzi, Bomgiizhik gii-bi-kogid, ghkendangwaa zhi-nishnaabe maadzid, gi-giiwse, gii-zgaktaaso, gegookiing edinand. Aashi gaa-bi-kenoomaagzid getsinjin gii-bi-ghkendmaad niibna nso-boon, miinongo maanda enakiid, aadsookewnini aawi. Niibnaa go kinda dbaajmowininan gashtoonanwii-mzinbii'and ezhiwaambdvng, miidash gonda mzinbiiganag kina mziwi king ewaambjigaazjig. Bomgiizhik ge'e ngomwinan ezhtoojindo-ngamnan, miinwaa doo-zhibii'aanan. Aapji go bishgendaan maandqa nankid, pii gwa zhised. Naangodnong syaakyoojin waawaaskoneyan maage datganaabit oodi gnawaambdang gwenaajwinik, gwenaajwang dibik giizhik.
Tony Belcourt
O.C. LL.D. (Hon.)
MAKWA GAA NIIGAANII (Tony Belcourt) was born and raised in the historic Métis community of Manitou Sahkahigan, Great Spirit Lake in Alberta, west of Edmonton. It was named Lac. Ste. Anne by the priests in the mid 1890’s.
The eldest of a family of 5 children, he is the son of proud Métis parents, Matilda Letendre L’Hirondelle and Emile Belcourt who raised the family on a homestead in the mixed economy of hunting, trapping, farming and seasonal labour employment. Speaking mostly Cree while growing up, it is the language spoken throughout the Métis community.
Following his father’s mantra “get our land back son”, Tony became an elected Métis leader in the 1960’s. He was elected President of the Native Council of Canada in 1971 and moved his family to Ottawa. He was the founding president of the Métis Nation of Ontario in 1993 and held numerous other posts including Métis Nation Ambassador to the United Nations.
Active in communications and the arts (as are his children Christi, Suzanne and Shane), Tony served on many advisory boards including at Trent University and the Ontario Collage of Art and Design University.
Tony has spent years in learning from traditional teachers including Wilfred Pelletier, Max Assiniwe and Elder Shiikenh Gordon Waindubence. In 2004 he was given rights to a sacred Sundance Song to bring to the drum on behalf of the Métis people at a Nation to Nation Ceremony between the Métis Nation and the Anishinaabek Nation at Kettle Point First Nation. He has been carried by the pipe since 2004 and was later gifted an Eagle Staff by Elder Shiikenh Gordon Waindubence.
Tony Belcourt
O.C. LL.D. (Hon.)
MAKWA GAA NIIGAANII (Tony Belcourt) was born and raised in the historic Métis community of Manitou Sahkahigan, Great Spirit Lake in Alberta, west of Edmonton. It was named Lac. Ste. Anne by the priests in the mid 1890’s.
The eldest of a family of 5 children, he is the son of proud Métis parents, Matilda Letendre L’Hirondelle and Emile Belcourt who raised the family on a homestead in the mixed economy of hunting, trapping, farming and seasonal labour employment. Speaking mostly Cree while growing up, it is the language spoken throughout the Métis community.
Following his father’s mantra “get our land back son”, Tony became an elected Métis leader in the 1960’s. He was elected President of the Native Council of Canada in 1971 and moved his family to Ottawa. He was the founding president of the Métis Nation of Ontario in 1993 and held numerous other posts including Métis Nation Ambassador to the United Nations.
Active in communications and the arts (as are his children Christi, Suzanne and Shane), Tony served on many advisory boards including at Trent University and the Ontario Collage of Art and Design University.
Tony has spent years in learning from traditional teachers including Wilfred Pelletier, Max Assiniwe and Elder Shiikenh Gordon Waindubence. In 2004 he was given rights to a sacred Sundance Song to bring to the drum on behalf of the Métis people at a Nation to Nation Ceremony between the Métis Nation and the Anishinaabek Nation at Kettle Point First Nation. He has been carried by the pipe since 2004 and was later gifted an Eagle Staff by Elder Shiikenh Gordon Waindubence.