Moses (Amik) Beaver - Arts in Education / References

Moses has completed many artists in education projects (see biography link). Documentation and photos are only available for the more recent ones and only when photos are provided to the artist.

Apr 2008

Ecole Paisley Road School, Guelph, April 2008: "Funded by the Ontario Art Council's Artists in Education Program, Aboriginal artist Moses Beaver worked with grades 4, 5 and 6's at Ecole Paisley Road School, Guelph.... A big part of the Grade 6 curriculum is talking about how native people live and are in tune with nature"...

Feb 2008

Kasabonika Education Authority, February 2008: "Kasabonika - Moses worked with grades 5-9, completing large murals with grades 5-8 and a fire sculpture with grade 9's .... enriching experience for all ... funded by the Ontario Art Councils Aboriginal Artists in Education Project Fund."

Oct 2007

St. James Catholic School, Eganville, Ontario, October 2007: "Aboriginal artist from far north creates St. James' School mural .... "It's a natural gift, I love working with children and have always. They're my inspiration..." "

Jan 2007

Bishop Smith Catholic School, Pembroke, Ontario, Renfew County Catholic, January 15 - 26, 2007: "Aboriginal Artist Moses (Amik) Beaver has spent the past two weeks at Bishop Smith Catholic School (Pembroke)....30 ft by 8 ft mural..... leather shields..... and arguably the most unique project created involved a fire sculpture... "

Dec 1 2006

Upsala Public School, Upsala, Ontario, November 27 - December 1, 2006: "...Over five days of profound cultural sharing and superb artistic inspiration, Native Artist Moses Beaver taught, motivated and enchanted our school's students and staff...."

Nov 3 2006

Northern Eagle High School, Ear Falls, Ontario, October 23 - Nov 3, 2006: "The mural will grace the halls of our school for many years.... fire sculpture provided the opportunity to release our sorrows and send our thoughts and best wishes to those that have passed before us..."

May 19 2006

Ear Falls Public School in Kenora, May 8 - May 19, 2006: "Storytelling Through Colour and Imagery"... Involving grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 approx. 140 students learned about aboriginal culture customs and language, storytelling, creating vision...what a wonderful experience..Moses is an inspiration and role model.... "

Mar 10 2006

Aglace Chapman Education Centre, Big Trout Lake, Feb 28- March 10, 2006: "... With funding from the Aboriginal Artists in Education Program of the Ontario Arts Council, Moses worked with students in Grades 3 and 4 making paper masks and totem poles; the Grade 5 and 6's painting to an Aboriginal Legend and participating in the creation of large murals on the gym walls... cumulating in an art exhibition/interview with Moses and students for the entire community... photos courtesy of James Wilkes, Photographer (www.visualvoices.ca) ... "

Oct 21 2005

Jack Donohue Public School, Kanata, Ontario, October 17 - 21, 2005: "... Working with over 100 grade 3 students, "Storytelling Through Colour and Imagery; Totem Polls"... students pieced together pictures to tell a story from the top of the totem to the bottom...and over 100 grade 6's, "Storytelling Through Colour and Imagery; Mural painting"... students painted to a legend then formed small groups and designed and painted larger murals... an experience with Aboriginal art and culture that the students and teachers will remember ... "

Sept 2005

John C. Yesno Education Centre, Steve Bentley, Principal, Eabametoong First Nation Education Authority, September 2005: "... Letter of recommendation for Moses Amik Beaver in regards to a nomination for an Aboriginal Achievement Award, 2005 in the area of Arts in Education.... I am personally inspired by Moses....stirring vision of peace and harmony in his work....with grace and serenity and extreme humility....towards the students and the art he teaches... "

May 2005

Biinjitiwaabik Zaaking Annishinaabek School (BZA), Rocky Bay, Ontario, May 2005: "... covering grades 1- 7, this school of only 55 students had a variety of arts projects completed during this two week project, funded by the Ontario Arts Councils Artists in Education Project, ranging from totem polls, paper masks and painting with younger students to clay animals, clay mask making and large mural making with older students... even the teachers participated... "

Apr 2005

Our Lady of Fatima School, Grimsby Ontario, April 2005: "... Moses created a wonderful rapport with our students, who genuinely respected him. Moses provided students with a multi-sensory approach to learning .... performed various musical pieces on his self-made flute and shared his stories, customs and aboriginal language. He assisted them in creating several art pieces including masks and pastel drawings... "

Feb-Mar 2005

John C. Yesno Education Center, Fort Hope Ontario, Feb-March 2005: "... I have seen many different artists in addition to exhibiting my own work. Mr. Beaver not only rates in the top 5% to 10% but also he has that wonderful ability to inspire and excite students about the visual arts in general... "

Jan 2005

Agnew H. Johnston School, January 2005: "... Ontario Arts Council grant supports two week arts and culture program at Agnew H. Johnston School for Grade 6 English and Grade 6 French classes. Students learned about aboriginal culture and legends while creating a mask from clay and paper mache. Each mask was titled and a short story was written by the youth. A small performance was given by the French class which included music and drama utilizing the masks. Following, the masks with stories were put on display for 3 weeks at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery... "

Nov-Dec 2004

Ontario Arts Council's Arts Education Projects, November/December, 2004: (Peanawuk/Fort Severn, Ontario)

"... funds Moses Beaver for this two week initiative to work with the Ma-Tah-Ha-Mao School in Peawanuck, and Wasaho First Nation School in Fort Severn, two of Ontario's most northern fly-in reserves... "

Nov 2004

Robarts School for the Deaf and the Amethyst Provincial Demonstration School for Learning Disabled Students, London Ontario, 2004: "... We are writing this letter in response to the art workshop that Moses Beaver facilitated at the Amethyst Provincial Demonstration school and the Robart's school for the Deaf. It is our absolute pleasure to report that the project was a huge success for both the students and the staff. Since many of the students at Robarts are native, several of the students were very happy to be able to create pieces of art linked to their culture and heritage... I would also like to thank him for donating a very beautiful painting to our school. He is a truly gifted artist ..."

Oct 2004

Oct 2004

Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, October 2004: "... Students Learn about History and Culture; Mask Making and Mural brings out Creativity...on display at Definately Superior Art Gallery from Nov 5, 2004 to Dec 18, 2004... "

Jan 2004

Amethyst Provincial Demonstration School for Students with Learning Disabilities in London, Ontario, 2004: "... Ontario Arts Council grant gives Amethyst Students four days of intensive art training with renowned aboriginal artist, Moses Beaver”…Cathleen says, “He encouraged everyone to do their best and in doing that, he brought out many unknown talents”. Drew writes, “I have learned that native art can tell a story and it is different to every person.... "

May 2004

Eenchokay Birchstick School, 2004: "... We would like to thank the Ontario Arts Council for sending two talented artists to our school in Pikangikum, Ontario...Moses and Norman Beaver... "

May 21 2004

Summer Beaver (Nibinamik) School, 2004: "... The Ontario Arts Council Aboriginal Arts in Education Project sponsored this flute/bone whistle making course in Summer Beaver, with Aboriginal artists Julian Nowgabow and Moses Beaver, from May 10 - May 21, 2004. The project was a huge success. Most of the materials were natural products, including cedar for the flutes, goose bones for the whistles and feathers. Both the whistles and flutes were decorated with paint and feathers, and the flutes had designs in wood burning/carvings, Woodland style. This project gave students and members of the community an opportunity to work together, using natural products from their environment, in an expression of selves through the creation of an instrument of music. The project was completed at the old school, which became a beehive of social activity during this two-week initiative... "

2003-2004

John C. Yesno Education Centre 2003 and 2004 (maskmaking): "... Day two of week two, was the most amazing day, collectively the students began collaborating on transferring their mural plans using overheads to the gym walls.What occurred next was nothing short of amazing, we had several community artists, inspired by the children and Moses, come in and began painting murals on the wall.... "

Jan 2003

Paul Munro, former teacher in Summer Beaver, 2003: "... Moses would also present lessons, etc. in my class, concerning wood carvings, painting, native culture, etc. The students most appreciated Moses when he would take time from his busy schedule and assist us on field trips (skidoo trips, camping, native studies, etc.), again remembering that he was not being paid for any of these ventures.... "