Cyril Assiniboine

Native Artist

Cyril Assiniboine, Saulteux Ojibwa, was born on the Long Plains First Nation community near Portage La Praire, Manitoba in 1958.

Another self taught native artist, Cyril likes to illustrate the cultural traditions of his own people as well as the traditionss of other native cultures.

His style changes to fit his subject matter. For example he's been a pow wow dancer across Canada and the United States and when he's painting the actions of the dancers and rhythms of the drums he uses deep rich colours in a representational manner.

Deeply embedded in his early works are the symbols and legends of the plains Ojibwa interwoven with the prairie landscape. Tall grass, buffalo, wolves, horses and mythical faces saught an accommodation with modern Euro-American mainstream society...a statement about a First Nations culture seeking its rightful place within a larger culture.