Willard Ahenakew
A Cree Indian born in 1943 on the Ahtahkakoop Reservation in Saskatchewan, Canada. At the age of 5 he was placed at an Indian Residential School administered by the Anglican Church. Willard has many fond memories of school and credits it for teaching him to stand on his own two feet.
At the age of ten he was returned to the Reservation to be raised by Chief Allan Ahenakew, a close relative, who motivated him to always be responsible and to work hard in whatever path God laid out for him. Many times the Chief would say “You are only what you make yourself to be, never blame others for who you are.”
After his schooling, Willard’s first full time profession was as a television artist. After five years in television he was asked to work for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians as a news reporter and photographer. While he was a news reporter he also created cartoons of Indian politics and Indian Humor. A cartoon book was published of these cartoons and 25,000 copies were sold throughout North America.
Willard is known throughout Canada for his leadership role in the national organization of Canadian Indian Artisans. Willard is acquainted with many of the leading Indian artists in Canada.
At the age of ten he was returned to the Reservation to be raised by Chief Allan Ahenakew, a close relative, who motivated him to always be responsible and to work hard in whatever path God laid out for him. Many times the Chief would say “You are only what you make yourself to be, never blame others for who you are.”
After his schooling, Willard’s first full time profession was as a television artist. After five years in television he was asked to work for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians as a news reporter and photographer. While he was a news reporter he also created cartoons of Indian politics and Indian Humor. A cartoon book was published of these cartoons and 25,000 copies were sold throughout North America.
Willard is known throughout Canada for his leadership role in the national organization of Canadian Indian Artisans. Willard is acquainted with many of the leading Indian artists in Canada.
