Randy Smoke is of Anishinaabe descent, was born 1953, and is a member of Alderville First Nation in Central Ontario, Canada. Lifelong traditional influences, combined with ongoing life experiences have inspired his decision to pursue traditional native art and are expressed in his work. Painting with oil allows him to change and move his composition around as he works. While in school he has been experimenting with acrylic paints.

Encouraged by his parents, wife, children and friends, he enrolled in The Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Here he developed lasting friendships with the instructors and Native students from North and South America. As his interests in North American Indians grew, his research expanded and his collection of reference books and knowledge increased. His work represents what he feels is the reality of Anishinaabek history shown in settings of realism. He is often referred to as a modern-day storyteller, rekindling the images of Anishinaabek by painting them with power and emotion, painting them as they are and were.

He is a soft-spoken man and tends to be reticent and slow to initiate a conversation but his eyes become animated when the conversation moves to his favorite subject, First Nations' traditions, culture and environmental issues. He regards himself as having a mission: "To represent First Nation peoples in an honest way, to show their ceremonies and their everyday life, as people who were not always at battle but people who raised children, made love, cooked meals, hunted and fished." Moreover, he has long since acquired a deep interest in learning all that he can about Anishinaabek old ways of life.

Since the summer of 1995 he has produced several easel paintings on speculation and hope. The feeling of freedom, from painting what he wants, has made those years and the present years the most satisfying of his life as an artist. This has been his turning point. He realized that his adrenaline level rose highest when he painted First Nation peoples. The more he studied, the more fascinated and intrigued he became. He enjoys researching to make each painting as authentic as he can, as though he is giving it a life and a soul. Although a lot of the old ways seem to be gone, Randy shows and demonstrates through his work as if he can see or feel them, as the old ones themselves might have with their eyes and in their hearts.

When he was asked how he conjure up images of the old days, his answer was, "All I have to do is concentrate and I can see them everywhere."

He becomes very emotional about what is still happening to First Nation peoples. He feels that it important to tell the stories of the First Nation peoples because it is a part of our heritage, part of our history. He feels that it would be a shame to allow our true history to be untold. He feels it will remain alive as long as his or other artist's paintings hang where all can see and listen.

By: Tania Lou Niomi Smoke