Saturday, September 27, 2008

Spirit Walker meets Copper Thunderbird (Part II)

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Thunder Bay, Ontario - May 16th, 2002
/Click on image to enlarge/
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Copper Thunderbird signing Spirit Walker's book:-Inscription made inside of the book "Legends of My People The Great Ojibway", Illustrated and told by NORVAL MORRISSEAU - edited by Selwyn Dewdeney /Toronto, Ryerson Press, 1965; ISBN: 0-7700-0110-6/
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Signed: Copper Thunderbird (Anishnaabe, Cree syllabics)
Signed: Norval Morrisseau (English)

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Reference posting: Spirit Walker meets Copper Thunderbird (Part I)

To be continued...
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4 comments:

Spirit Walker said...

Someone wrote: "Doesn't prove anything... I have lots of pictures of Norval Morriseau doing various things.. Doesn't mean anything and certainly doesn't prove you met him Spirit Walker. Let's see a picture of you and him together... Then that will prove you met him. And in any event, that's all it will prove. Lots of people met him. He was a celebrity... This is pathetic.

My reply would be: "I felt that meeting a celebrity like Norval Morrisseau was an honour and something of which to be proud and not envious. Something to tell ones children and friends about. But definitely not something to use as a down-grading tool that would dishonour the memory of a great artist. I am sorry if my photo of him brought out a feeling of jealousy. I not only admire him as an artist but also as an individual who overcame many adversities to rise to greatness as an artist and person of great wisdom. I sees him as a role model and a great artist and I want to share my feeling with the readers of this blog."

Megwetch, SW

Anonymous said...

What this picture and SW's claim does show is that in 2002 Norval HIMSELF was still signing his own signature in both manners. There are many that have claimed that Norval was not capable of signing his own name and they question his signature on documents stating that paintings are fake.

As for SW's comments above - I do not think anyone was jealous. I would presume the reader who left comment was trying to show that just because you have a book that was signed by him or you have a picture of him signing a book (your book?) does not make an authority compared to people that were close to him and worked direcgtly with him.

Anonymous said...

SW,

Don't worry about proving yourself any longer. You proved your worth along time ago. Your true friends know you met the Great Norval Morrisseau. It must have been a great honour to meet such a legend.
Happy trails SW, dont ever stop this blog. It is inspiring to see you rise up against adversity. Just like Norval did.
Mark Johnson

Spirit Walker said...

Anonymous posted comment for "Spirit Walker meets Copper Thunderbird (Part I)"...
I am quoting this comment unedited below:

"I don't understand the motivation behind the pettiness of the comments. Frankly, I don't really care. It doesn't really matter, (within the larger world) and if we consider the intent and teachings of Norval Morrisseau...well! Someone isn't listening! Someone isn't seeing!
What I DO KNOW is that I've been visiting this blog for some time and Spiritwalker as far as I can tell, is honouring Norval Morrisseau, his great art, his magnificent voice and his far-reaching spirit. He is a great admirer of Norval's work and is quite knowledgable; then he shares that knowledge with the world! I do not believe honourable men such as Spiritwalker who has proven himself to be of such character, would suddenly perform a deed that is in conflict with his proven nature by making any un-true claims. Common sense and evidence simply do not support such an accusation.
But I'm thinking this is not the real issue. The real issue seems to be some sort of KRG "hand out book" to customers and...
I've glimpsed a slight hint here and there on the blog of some sort of conflict with Spiritwalker and KRG.
I'm not interested in the nature of the conflict but I do know this. As long as these conflicts continue, and like most conflicts they are no doubt driven by fear, then Norval's worldwide reputation will suffer and his true greatness will never be given it's true and rightful stature. One of the ways that Indians have always been held down and kept in their place is through those who have always purported to be acting in our best interests. We know what that racist way of thinking does and what it is doing now. It is keeping Norval in his place! The contrary result of not acting in his best interest, or the Ojibwa for that matter, while claiming to be doing so is as old as the grass is long. I suggest very strongly that whatever issues require dialogue to resolve them, that, that process begin immediately. This is in the best interests of Norval, the Ojibwa, KPG and for goodness sake hopefully stop the character assination and innuendo of a lone but honourable blogger. The bigger picture here is to let go of those things that are toxic and assess the issue(s) first with respect, love, fun, passion and spirit. All the things that Norval is and more. I think if there is genuine and sincere effort to this task that all will be well,(the players are hardly what I would refer to as bad people) and that everyone's initial intent to protect the interests of Norval's voice will in fact be manifested. Bring in some elders if you need, but please let Norval fly! It's time. Thank you."

Megwetch, SW