INTRODUCING NEECHEE STUDIO!
A FRESH PROGRAM FOR INDIGENOUS YOUTH, ORGANIZED BY INDIGENOUS YOUTH AND EMERGING ARTISTS.
NEECHEE STUDIO IS A FREE ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 14-30ish, held out of Definitely Superior Art Gallery in Thunder Bay, ON.
Over 50 youth attend the monthly workshops! It's always free and always led BY EMERGING & INDIGENOUS ARTISTS!
The Neechee Studio season begins in the fall, we do 8-10 arts and culture projects that culminate in a live exhibition and a publication called the Neechee Zine. Workshops are drop in style and lots of fun!
Look out, we’re bringing you graffiti, beading, silkscreening, body casting, hiphop, moccasin making, painting, drawing and more!
Our workshops are led by professional artists who like to combine traditional craft with contemporary methods, blending them together, nice and comfy.
Indigenous youth from all communities are welcome to register by joining the Facebook page or emailing neecheestudio@gmail.com. Neechee Studio workshops are held from 5:30-8:30 pm at DefSup (250 Park Ave Thunder Bay) or on Fort William First Nation at the Community Centre, once or twice a month.
Live too far away or can’t make it to the workshops?
Post your own art on Instagram #neecheestudio or Facebook to be in the neechee art book!
Call for Submissions for neechee art magazine ON NOW!
*neechee is ojibway for brother or friend
Please click below to hear stories from our youth & learn why we do Neechee Studio
A FRESH PROGRAM FOR INDIGENOUS YOUTH, ORGANIZED BY INDIGENOUS YOUTH AND EMERGING ARTISTS.
NEECHEE STUDIO IS A FREE ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 14-30ish, held out of Definitely Superior Art Gallery in Thunder Bay, ON.
Over 50 youth attend the monthly workshops! It's always free and always led BY EMERGING & INDIGENOUS ARTISTS!
The Neechee Studio season begins in the fall, we do 8-10 arts and culture projects that culminate in a live exhibition and a publication called the Neechee Zine. Workshops are drop in style and lots of fun!
Look out, we’re bringing you graffiti, beading, silkscreening, body casting, hiphop, moccasin making, painting, drawing and more!
Our workshops are led by professional artists who like to combine traditional craft with contemporary methods, blending them together, nice and comfy.
Indigenous youth from all communities are welcome to register by joining the Facebook page or emailing neecheestudio@gmail.com. Neechee Studio workshops are held from 5:30-8:30 pm at DefSup (250 Park Ave Thunder Bay) or on Fort William First Nation at the Community Centre, once or twice a month.
Live too far away or can’t make it to the workshops?
Post your own art on Instagram #neecheestudio or Facebook to be in the neechee art book!
Call for Submissions for neechee art magazine ON NOW!
*neechee is ojibway for brother or friend
Please click below to hear stories from our youth & learn why we do Neechee Studio
Selected Awards and Grants
Ontario Trillium Foundation, Youth Opportunities Fund, 4 yr Scale Grant
Ontario Arts Council, Indigenous Arts Project Grant
CRIA grant
RCMP, FVIF grant
City of Thunder Bay Arts and Heritage Award for Best Cultural Organization 2017
REVEAL - Indigenous Art Awards Five Members of Neechee Studio Committee Awarded
Mayor's Community Safety Awards: Outstanding Community Project 2018
Selected Conferences/Talks/Presentations by Neechee Studio Committee Members
-TEDx Lora Northway speaks on Youth Creative Production and Discrimination in Thunder Bay, 2016
-NAN Youth Conference, Committee Members Savanna, Riley and Cynthia spoke on a panel, 2017
-Multicultural Folklore Festival, Youth committee members promoted Neechee and sold their own beading and artwork, 2017
-2nd Annual Maadaadizi Orientation event, youth committee members promoted Neechee and sold our zines, 2016
-Youth Solidarity Day, youth from Neechee Participated, 2016
-Indigenous Conference for the Arts at Thunder Bay Art Gallery, youth members spoke on panel, 2015
-Government of Ontario Culture Strategy Talks, Lora Northway Key Artist Speaker representing Neechee Studio, 2015
-Ontario Native Education Conference, 2014/15
-Dennis Franklin Cromarty, presentation by youth committee members, 2014/15
-Oshki-Pimache-o-win Education Center, youth committee members promoted Neechee, 2014/15
-Indian Friendship Centre, presentation by youth committee members, 2014
- Matawa, presentation by youth committee members, 2014
-Feathers of Hope, youth members Lucille and Matilda spoke and led workshops, 2014
-Thunder Bay Suicide Prevention Conference, youth committee members presented, 2013
-Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Neechee committee met and spoke with Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, 2013
-Annual Chapman’s Indigenous Arts and Craft Sale, Neechee committee sold zines and art, Fort William First Nation, 2013,14,15,16
-Annual DefSup Urban Infill Art Exhibition, Neechee Studio Exhibited their own show, 2014-2017
-Neechee in a Box 3 day Conference, Neechee developed and delivered a conference to 20 Indigenous Youth from several communities to share how to begin a 'Neechee Studio' in their home reserves, Nov 2014
Ontario Trillium Foundation, Youth Opportunities Fund, 4 yr Scale Grant
Ontario Arts Council, Indigenous Arts Project Grant
CRIA grant
RCMP, FVIF grant
City of Thunder Bay Arts and Heritage Award for Best Cultural Organization 2017
REVEAL - Indigenous Art Awards Five Members of Neechee Studio Committee Awarded
Mayor's Community Safety Awards: Outstanding Community Project 2018
Selected Conferences/Talks/Presentations by Neechee Studio Committee Members
-TEDx Lora Northway speaks on Youth Creative Production and Discrimination in Thunder Bay, 2016
-NAN Youth Conference, Committee Members Savanna, Riley and Cynthia spoke on a panel, 2017
-Multicultural Folklore Festival, Youth committee members promoted Neechee and sold their own beading and artwork, 2017
-2nd Annual Maadaadizi Orientation event, youth committee members promoted Neechee and sold our zines, 2016
-Youth Solidarity Day, youth from Neechee Participated, 2016
-Indigenous Conference for the Arts at Thunder Bay Art Gallery, youth members spoke on panel, 2015
-Government of Ontario Culture Strategy Talks, Lora Northway Key Artist Speaker representing Neechee Studio, 2015
-Ontario Native Education Conference, 2014/15
-Dennis Franklin Cromarty, presentation by youth committee members, 2014/15
-Oshki-Pimache-o-win Education Center, youth committee members promoted Neechee, 2014/15
-Indian Friendship Centre, presentation by youth committee members, 2014
- Matawa, presentation by youth committee members, 2014
-Feathers of Hope, youth members Lucille and Matilda spoke and led workshops, 2014
-Thunder Bay Suicide Prevention Conference, youth committee members presented, 2013
-Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Neechee committee met and spoke with Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, 2013
-Annual Chapman’s Indigenous Arts and Craft Sale, Neechee committee sold zines and art, Fort William First Nation, 2013,14,15,16
-Annual DefSup Urban Infill Art Exhibition, Neechee Studio Exhibited their own show, 2014-2017
-Neechee in a Box 3 day Conference, Neechee developed and delivered a conference to 20 Indigenous Youth from several communities to share how to begin a 'Neechee Studio' in their home reserves, Nov 2014
How it all began....
The group was formed in 2013 in response to a need for free arts programming for Indigenous youth in Thunder Bay. Neechee aims to empower the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth (ages 14-30) through artistic expression. Youth are guided by Indigenous art instructors with the goal of completing eight varied arts and culture projects which culminate in an exhibition and a publication of their work. Workshops we have created and designed have included: beading, quilling, painting, hip-hop music writing, film, photography, clay, pine needle basketry, and drum making/teachings. Neechee has run with great success and demand for 4 consecutive seasons with over 50 youth attending each of the monthly workshops. Neechee is the only program of it’s kind in Canada and serves a youth population of over 350 individuals from over 60 Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario.
The name “Neechee” was chosen by youth members for its Ojibwe meaning “brother, or friend”.
It began with a conversation. What do the youth in our community need? It was the voice of Lucille Atlookan who said ‘we need art’. Lucille grew up in a remote community and came to Thunder Bay to continue her education. On average, most northern communities do not have high schools. Moving to the city is a difficult transition for our youth. Hence the importance of creating a safe space for gathering and using art as our tool to communicate, get to know one another, laugh and be in the moment, while at the the same time building strong leaders for the future. It is a place of acceptance, inclusivity, and community.
Neechee Studio is organized by a small, dedicated committee of 14 passionate indigenous youth, artists, and arts professionals
Shout out to Marc H. Bohemier who has been a member of the RCMP for over 25 years and is currently a retired Corporal in Thunder Bay. In May 2003 Marc began working in the Aboriginal Policing Section and has travelled extensively in Ontario’s far north working closely with Aboriginal peoples, organizations and communities developing and delivering a wide range of proactive community based initiatives. During his career he has worked in uniformed policing, Federal Enforcement, Commercial Crime and Drug Enforcement sections. His proudest and most rewarding professional achievement has been to be one of the co-creators of the highly successful Neechee Studio. Marc has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology/political studies, has recently completed a certificate in Indigenous Learning at Lakehead University and is currently completing his Masters in the same program.
The group was formed in 2013 in response to a need for free arts programming for Indigenous youth in Thunder Bay. Neechee aims to empower the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth (ages 14-30) through artistic expression. Youth are guided by Indigenous art instructors with the goal of completing eight varied arts and culture projects which culminate in an exhibition and a publication of their work. Workshops we have created and designed have included: beading, quilling, painting, hip-hop music writing, film, photography, clay, pine needle basketry, and drum making/teachings. Neechee has run with great success and demand for 4 consecutive seasons with over 50 youth attending each of the monthly workshops. Neechee is the only program of it’s kind in Canada and serves a youth population of over 350 individuals from over 60 Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario.
The name “Neechee” was chosen by youth members for its Ojibwe meaning “brother, or friend”.
It began with a conversation. What do the youth in our community need? It was the voice of Lucille Atlookan who said ‘we need art’. Lucille grew up in a remote community and came to Thunder Bay to continue her education. On average, most northern communities do not have high schools. Moving to the city is a difficult transition for our youth. Hence the importance of creating a safe space for gathering and using art as our tool to communicate, get to know one another, laugh and be in the moment, while at the the same time building strong leaders for the future. It is a place of acceptance, inclusivity, and community.
Neechee Studio is organized by a small, dedicated committee of 14 passionate indigenous youth, artists, and arts professionals
Shout out to Marc H. Bohemier who has been a member of the RCMP for over 25 years and is currently a retired Corporal in Thunder Bay. In May 2003 Marc began working in the Aboriginal Policing Section and has travelled extensively in Ontario’s far north working closely with Aboriginal peoples, organizations and communities developing and delivering a wide range of proactive community based initiatives. During his career he has worked in uniformed policing, Federal Enforcement, Commercial Crime and Drug Enforcement sections. His proudest and most rewarding professional achievement has been to be one of the co-creators of the highly successful Neechee Studio. Marc has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology/political studies, has recently completed a certificate in Indigenous Learning at Lakehead University and is currently completing his Masters in the same program.
