top of page

2025
Speakers

Lucia Laford

Lucia O'Connor Laford, known by her Anishinaabe name Waawaaskone Kwe, is an Anishinaabe and Irish artist from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Specializing in the traditional Woodland art style, she continues the artistic legacy of her father, John Laford, by creating vivid, bright works with crisp line work that reflect her spiritual connection and healing journey.
As a passionate Indigenous arts educator, Lucia conducts workshops and classes year-round, teaching Woodland and floral painting, drawing, and leatherwork to individuals of all ages. She particularly enjoys collaborating with First Nation communities to promote cultural reclamation and artistic expression. In addition to her community engagement, Lucia serves as a part-time professor at Algoma University, where she teaches a course titled "Anishinaabe Art and Material Culture." Her commitment to cultural preservation is further demonstrated by her ongoing journey to reclaim her heritage and learn Anishinaabemowin, the Ojibwe language.
Lucia's contributions to the arts extend to public installations and community projects. She has led initiatives such as the Woodland Mural Art Project at the Art Gallery of Algoma, guiding Indigenous youth in creating a mural that beautifies the gallery's exterior and fosters cultural pride. Her work has been featured in various exhibitions, including live painting for the Royal Ontario Museum during the Anishinabeg: Art & Power exhibition. She has also created murals for the Fort York Indigenous Festival and collaborated with organizations like Vibe Arts, RBC, and the Toronto Transit Commission.
Through her art and educational endeavors, Lucia O'Connor Laford plays a vital role in promoting Indigenous culture, fostering community engagement, and inspiring the next generation of artists in Ontario and beyond.

bottom of page