“Fred McDonald” Episode 11 (2005, 24 minutes)

This Woodland Cree from Fort McMurray in northern Alberta hunted and trapped with his family along the Athabasca River as a child. Fred McDonald attended the University of Calgary, completing a BFA in 1995 and an MFA in 2002. His work is a mixture of styles and expressions, and he uses colours and symbols to capture the experiences, the characteristics and the spirituality of his people.

This 26-part series of half-hour documentaries presents the work and thoughts of a diverse group of Aboriginal artists. Twenty-four of them are Canadian--from British Columbia, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Ontario; the other two are American--a painter from Montana and a glass blower from Seattle. By definition, artists are people who live on the edge, and Aboriginal artists have had a tougher journey than most.
The stories in this series are from artists who would not quit, even in the face of adversity and who have made a difference to both their communities and to the world of contemporary art.

Directed by: Raymond Yakeleya, Bill Stewart
Produced by: Raymond Yakeleya, Bill Stewart, Earth Magic Media

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