Brad Bonaparte Inducted into Cornwall and Area Arts Hall of Fame

By Darren Bonaparte

Akwesasne artist Brad Bonaparte was inducted into the Cornwall and Area Arts Hall of Fame on Friday, October 18, 2019.

Brad began his art career as a staff artist at the North American Indian Travelling College. He did numerous gallery exhibitions over the years, as well as traditional singing and storytelling performances throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. As an ironworker, he and his partner Andy Jacobs worked at the site of the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. After retiring from that line of work, he created a series of steel sculptures that adorn the grounds of the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino and Resort. Brad left us in 2010, but his legacy continues to inspire a new generation.

More than a dozen members of his family attended the annual gala held at the Best Western in Cornwall. It was co-hosted by Cornwall Mayor Bernadette Clement. The theme of the evening was Birds of a Feather, with decorations, costumes, and table settings highlighting the beauty of our fine-feathered friends.

Brad joined 10 other artists and the Focus Art Association in receiving the honor. The artists include Louise-Andrée Baril, Michèle Chauvin-Bourdon, Noëlla Cotnam, Janet Irwin, Nicole Labelle, Roger Levac, Veronica Maguire, Duncan McIntosh, James Fagan Tait, and Rick Forrester.

The event included entertainment, such as a capella group C-Way Sound, who serenaded each table throughout the night. The young dancers of the Powell School of Dance performed a ballet. Two singers from the Native North American Travelling College sang traditional Mohawk songs and got quite a few of those in attendance to dance. Guitarist and singer Nicolas Doyon, who had quite a few singing along to his French folk songs. The final performance for the night was a song by Heather Mahon, accompanied by pianist Steve Ellam.

Brad was nominated for the honor by Elaine MacDonald, a member of city council and a major force in the creation of an arts center in Cornwall. She announced at the event that more than a half a million dollars has already been raised to make this vision a reality.

Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief Abram Benedict spoke about Brad during his induction. The family thanks him for allowing us to share his speech:

“Shekon, Bonjour, Good evening to all of you today and thank you for inviting the Mohawk Council to take part in this important event. To the Hall of Fame organizers: Niawen, it means very much to us to be able to share in the honoring of one of our community members and it means a lot to our entire community to have the arts held to the high esteem it is here tonight. We have many talented artists, today and throughout our community’s history, and we ourselves have sought ways to show them, and their families, that art is a priceless contribution to our cultural perseverance.

The late Brad Bonaparte was as true as artists come. He had the passion that we all hope to have in life. Although his lifetime was too short, he had contributed decades to expressing our culture and traditions through many artistic mediums...some of which were very unique and have left a legacy for other artists to be inspired by. Brad may have left us too soon, but he unknowingly left behind many steppingstones for other artists, so that they might have an easier path to follow in their own pursuit of artistic expression.

To Brad’s family, we thank you for continuing to share his contributions with us all. Your support of his artwork has been unwavering in his lifetime and all these years after. Your pride in him is shared by our community. On behalf of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, we wish to congratulate the late Brad Bonaparte for his recognition tonight and for his lifetime of cultural contributions.”

Nia:wenkowa,

Grand Chief Abram Benedict