Adizokan - Nadia McLaren

Adizokan (ahh-odds-zo-khan) is an Anishinaabemowin word that describes ancestors, stories, a traditional story, a remembrance of spirit, and can be translated to mean “a spirit that carries wisdom and knowledge.”
Nadia McLaren, an Anishinaabe artist, storyteller and Indigenous educator, with family roots in Northern Ontario, created this painting in honour of her childhood friend Catherine Gowan. Catherine was murdered on July 8, 1990, at age 15. The investigation into her death was re-opened in 2015.
Nadia began painting Adizokan in 2017 and, upon completion, she gifted the piece of art to the OPP Indigenous Policing Bureau. Her journey in creating this artwork through a traditional path has provided the organization with a powerful memorial and educational piece that shares Anishinaabe culture and symbolism. Understanding the significance of the teachings and respecting the memory of whom it honours will help guide the OPP in their important role of addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Calls for Justice.
Nadia suggests we are not to be an observer of the painting, but are to be part of it. Speaking to each person in its own way, the work will honour the spirit of the individual.
We are to ask ourselves: “What is my role in ensuring the safety of this country’s most vulnerable?”
English Described Video Version: • (Described Video) Adiz...
For transcript request or questions about accessibility features on this video, email [e-mail].