The life, work, and legacy of Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau

The life, work, and legacy of Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau - a.k.a. Copper Thunderbird - is being celebrated was celebrated on Tuesday's Google Canada Doodle. Google doodles are the changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists.

The Doodle was conceived and illustrated by Anishinaabe artists Blake Angeconeb and Danielle H. Morrison, both from Lake of the Woods, Ontario - a place best known as Kenora and stronghold of the Treaty 3 Anishinaabe Nation. The artwork featured in the Doodle exudes Morrisseau's unmistakable style - a myriad of vibrant colors, an ode to his thunderbird nickname, a portrait of Norval, and traditional Anishinaabe florals throughout.

Morrisseau, also known as Copper Thunderbird, was a renowned painter from Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek in northwestern Ontario. He became popular in the 1960s for his Woodland style, using bold brush strokes and plenty of color.

Angeconeb, from Lac Seul First Nation in northwestern Ontario, is an established artist himself, with a large online presence. He uses Woodland style and incorporates pop culture into his works.

"Norval's work was the first artwork that really truly drew me into art," said Angeconeb.

"There was no other artist or artwork before him that I looked at that really resonated or had an impact on me."

Morrison, from Anishinaabeg of Naongashiing in northwestern Ontario, is a graphic designer, lawyer, and entrepreneur. She digitized the image Angeconeb created.

"[There are] deep tones, a lot of florals, references to life and nature," Morrison said.

"And you're going to see a little bit of Norval in the actual doodle because we really wanted to honor him as an individual."

Morrison said what is unknown by a lot of folks is that Morrisseau was bisexual.

"A lot of his values were based in seeing beyond sexuality, gender, race, religion, and that life was all about interconnectedness," she said.

"I think that's a really important message that people around the world can really use ... today."

Norval Morrisseau, CM RCA, also known as Copper Thunderbird, was an Indigenous Canadian artist from the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation. Known as the "Picasso of the North", Morrisseau created works depicting the legends of his people, the cultural and political tensions between native Canadian and European traditions, his existential struggles, and his deep spirituality and mysticism. His style is characterized by thick black outlines and bright colors. He founded the Woodlands School of Canadian art and was a prominent member of the "Indian Group of Seven".