Greetings Visitors!

Introduction to NativeExpress.ca

I built NativeExpress back in 2008 as a personal portfolio site for myself while attending school at Fanshawe College in London, ON, Canada. After completing Fanshawe’s 1 year General Arts & Science program. I then enrolled, in their 2-year program called Multimedia Design & Production, there I learnt Web Design, Graphic Design, Photography & much more. Most of which, I will incorporate into this website.

I myself coming from both a Native American background as well as an artistic background I know all too well, how hard it can be to market your art and yourself as an artist. Knowing what I know now, about the difficulties a majority of Native American Artisans have marketing themselves and their artwork, especially in regards to the financial aspect of the business. Not every artist has the financial backing to be able to afford a website to market their art. The label "The Starving Artist" stands out, all too well to me. With costs ranging from supplies, tools, printing and other types of financial expenditures that arise in the creation and marketing of their work. It can become quite costly. This is usually due to the point that most Native American artisans, live on or just below the poverty level. It's no wonder artists are labeled, as starving. Due to lack of advertising and good contacts in the art world, many artists end up going to the middle man who in turn takes advantage of them by paying them only a fraction of the price, that their art is actually worth. Then they go to re-sell it for much more than what they paid, sometimes more than doubled the price of what they had paid for it. Due to the inability to market themselves, whether it is because of the lack of financial support, many Native American Artisans have a hard time getting themselves noticed outside their immediate area. So knowing this!

I dedicate this site to my fellow Native American Artisans and also to the Lover's of Native American Art!

Southwestern Ontario is a home to many Native American Artisans who are very talented in more ways than one and I believe I can prove this to the world. So, in keeping all these factors in mind. I decided to create this website where they can display some samples of their art which in turn will allow them to reached by a wider range of art lovers via the World Wide Web.

To this site, I would like to invite all Art Lover’s to come and view this directory. To all local Native American Artisans from Southwestern Ontario, which includes Kettle & Stony Point, Aamjiwnaang (Sarnia), Bkejwanong (Walpole Island), Muncey Delaware, Onieda, Chippewa’s of the Thames, Delaware of the Thamas (Bucktown / Moravian town), Saugeen, Caldwell and Six Nations. I invite you to join this directory of Native American Artisans

To this site I welcome all forms of art from drawings, photography, cravings, beadwork as long as it is made by a Native American Artisan then the site is interested in adding you to the directory. You may contact me by going to the contact page and submitting the form there. People with questions and inquires, should do so as well.

I encourage visitors to bookmark this page because I will be updating it frequently!

Thank you for visiting and please come back!