"Art is the purest and truest expression of an individual… in it are all manners of things one is not always able to express verbally."

Maxine Noel - Ioyan Mani, Sioux Artist

Ioyan Mani - to walk beyond - is Maxine's Sioux name that reveals her gift. Maxine is Oglala Sioux, born on the Birdtail Reserve in Manitoba. The eldest of eleven children, she learned to draw among a loving family on a quiet reserve. In residential school she experienced the struggles of submersion of the native spirituality and culture, which brought her strength and enrichment. Maxine was appointed in 2019 as a member of the Order of Canada for her work as a visual artist and for encouraging and promoting creative expression in Indigenous communities.

A self-taught artist, Maxine is skilled in many media. She seeks through the use of fluid images, flowing lines and subtle colours, to present essential characteristics of the Native people: their sensibilities, generosity and loving nature. Maxine has received honours and accolades for her work with Native cultures, and she speaks around the country on art and on social issues, assisting in bridging the gap between Native and non-Native, young and old.

Maxine was a recipient of the Order of Canada in 2019 for her notable achievements.