Aaron Paquette Bio
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Aaron Paquette is one of Canadaʼs premiere First Nations artists. He is a
painter, a published author, a keynote speaker and a workshop facilitator. He is also a
politician, illustrator, goldsmith and cathedral stained
glass artist.
And he is also very lucky to be alive.
It was on a cold August night in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada that Aaron found himself on the guardrails of the High Level Bridge. A moment of crisis.
Over the intervening years, through ups and downs and many mistakes and learning opportunities, Aaron has found a way to voice his message. We all suffer, but none of us are alone. There is a strength within us and around us that we can constantly draw on, not only to get us through tough times, but to propel us into the life we always wanted.
Aaron’s public art and mural work is colourful, flowing and accessible, perfect for any community.
In great demand, Aaron is an engaging, exciting and inspiring speaker and gives generously of his spirit in laughter, joy and learning.
He has shared the stage with former and current politicians such as Phil Fontaine, Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne, Dr. Marie Wilson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, former Auditor General of Canada Sheilah Fraser and Right Honorable Paul Martin.
Aaron has welcomed to his own stage such great creators as award winning authors Richard Wagamese, Richard Van Camp, David Bouchard and the award winning musical trio ASANI.
In early 2013 he coined the term Ottawapiskat which helped disrupt the way we look at the relationship between Indigenous Reservations and the Canadian government in a constructive and humorous way. It was a stark and paradigm shifting marriage of the words Ottawa (Canada’s capital city) and Attawapiskat, a northern community under the grip of extreme poverty and suffering. People immediately saw the potential and began creating their own highly charged, incisive, or just plain funny tweets around the new word. Making space for other’s creativity and inventiveness is something that inspires Aaron’s work and efforts.
And he is also very lucky to be alive.
It was on a cold August night in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada that Aaron found himself on the guardrails of the High Level Bridge. A moment of crisis.
Over the intervening years, through ups and downs and many mistakes and learning opportunities, Aaron has found a way to voice his message. We all suffer, but none of us are alone. There is a strength within us and around us that we can constantly draw on, not only to get us through tough times, but to propel us into the life we always wanted.
Aaron’s public art and mural work is colourful, flowing and accessible, perfect for any community.
In great demand, Aaron is an engaging, exciting and inspiring speaker and gives generously of his spirit in laughter, joy and learning.
He has shared the stage with former and current politicians such as Phil Fontaine, Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne, Dr. Marie Wilson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, former Auditor General of Canada Sheilah Fraser and Right Honorable Paul Martin.
Aaron has welcomed to his own stage such great creators as award winning authors Richard Wagamese, Richard Van Camp, David Bouchard and the award winning musical trio ASANI.
In early 2013 he coined the term Ottawapiskat which helped disrupt the way we look at the relationship between Indigenous Reservations and the Canadian government in a constructive and humorous way. It was a stark and paradigm shifting marriage of the words Ottawa (Canada’s capital city) and Attawapiskat, a northern community under the grip of extreme poverty and suffering. People immediately saw the potential and began creating their own highly charged, incisive, or just plain funny tweets around the new word. Making space for other’s creativity and inventiveness is something that inspires Aaron’s work and efforts.