Cody James Houle (he/him) is an Anishinaabe/French artist based out of Brantford. Houle’s family ancestry are Anishinaabe from Saugeen First Nations and French from Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. Houle was raised in the small military city of North Bay, Ontario. In his youth he was immersed in intergenerational trauma. His family had been disenfranchised, and his father, as a child, had been displaced by the Children’s Aid Society. As a result, his father suffered from a lifetime of substance abuse, and Houle grew up in an unsafe environment. Houle had to generate his own sense of security, and survived through a deeply intimate connection to nature and a motivated desire to create something meaningful in this life.

Houle felt shame about being Native and never understood where he belonged. Now, his art allows him to process these emotions and show his pride in being an Indigenous man. A self-taught painter, Houle has been active in the arts community for over 6 years. Houle produces many different styles of work which all are true to his story, his heart and his passion for being free with his gift.

Houle believes paintings are teachings and it is important to share art to inspire hope, self-belief and a better understanding of the struggles indigenous peoples are faced with. He encourages anyone (especially youth!) to create for the sake of creating—to express themselves and give expression to their lives because our stories matter.