Hailing from Saugeen Ojibway Nation 29, Robert J Henry brings his latest exhibition, Our Bundle, Our Medicine, to The Gallery at L.E. Shore. Opening this summer, 2025.
Exhibit Schedule
Opens: July 5, 2025
Grand Reception: July 5 | 2-4pm. All welcome. Complementary refreshments provided. Learn more.
Closes: August 27 at 2pm.
Our bundle, our medicine
The brushes I have go hand in hand with my spiritual journey to learn about tradition and life. In life, and throughout, we learn how to put our bundle together to help us live life in a good way. To help us in the not so good moments. I once asked an Elder, “How do I start my bundle?” He laughed and said, "You already carry your bundle: your brushes." Some bundles have eagle feathers, pipes, different medicines. I've always used my brushes for healing, never for the money.
I've seen my oldest son use art for healing. With art we healed together. Both of us were in a horrible car crash – a head-on with a black pick-up truck. I was a front passenger, and my airbag didn’t go off. I died on impact. At the moment of my passing, time stopped and turned a turquoise-blue-green color. I asked creator to take my life and not my son’s. Time slowly moved again. A feeling of weightlessness began as we flew twenty-seven feet, like a frisbee, and hit the trailer the black truck was hauling.
After the accident, I was diagnosed with a catastrophic brain trauma. There is no scientific explanation for how I survived the crash.
Somehow, I stepped out of death, and my son is okay. We still live to create, to heal with the bundle we carry, to continue to create that bundle. For the first time, I could not use my brushes to heal. I couldn't paint, so I sang on grandfather drum every day, who was also with us in the crash. My condition is life altering.
I am thankful for every new day, my children, family, every lesson, the new life I was gifted, and every creation I am able to create. Many meegwetches for this bundle I carry, meegwetch Gchi manitou
- Robert J Henry
About the Artist
Ojibway Artist Robert J Henry was born in 1979 in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada, and currently resides in Saugeen Ojibway Nation #29. His journey with acrylics started in 1995. A self-taught artist, his inspiration comes from many First Nations artists and master artists of the past. He uses both traditional painting techniques and his own methods learned from trial and error. Robert is of the Bear clan. His spirit name is “Sagajiwaygeezhig.”
“Coming from the sun.”
Visiting Us
The Gallery is a multi-use space and is often booked for private events. So while you can always drop in during opening hours, if coming from a distance, we encourage you to call 519 599 3681 to ensure The Gallery is available for walkthroughs.
