Honourable senators, I rise today to honour a gifted and prolific artist, a friend and a beautiful human being — Jay Bell Redbird. A uniquely funny, playful and creative man, Jay was all heart.

Speaking of heart, Jay loved to give big warm bear hugs, and he always embraced you heart to heart in order to make a direct exchange of love.

He was a true original. After attending the opening, last Saturday, of his new show, “Expressions of Mother Earth” with his beloved life partner and fellow artist, Halina Stopyra, at Sherbrooke village, Jay returned to his home in Cape Breton, or “Paradise Island” as he liked to call it. He went to bed late as usual and just didn’t wake up the next morning.

Jay left us much too soon. He was only 52 years old, and he was having so much fun. Knowing Jay, he would say that he has joined his dear mother in the spirit world.

Born in Ottawa to the late Elaine Bell and Duke Redbird, Jay was a member of the Wikwemikong Unceded Territory First Nation on Manitoulin Island, his mother’s community. Jay was a proud father and loving brother to his sisters.

Jay was a self-taught artist. He told me stories of being surrounded in his childhood home by world-renowned artists Jackson Beardy and Norval Morrisseau; his uncle, the well-respected Leland Bell; and his dad, Duke Redbird, an artist, writer and activist.

An artist in the woodland style, Jay said:

I paint legends and dreams, bringing to life the animal spirit and the spirit of all creation. My lines do not tell the story of prejudice, they follow the Red Road, Mino Bimaadiziwin as I do following the teaching of the Three Fires Midewiwin Society.

I was so honoured when Jay Bell Redbird was commissioned to create a painting for me by our mutual friend Rolf Bouman. I will forever cherish Jay’s beautiful, bold, colourful painting depicting Mother Earth — the turtle — and depicting leadership using the symbolism of a loon and a heron, which is now in my Senate East Block office. Danny DeVito and Michael Douglas also own paintings by Jay.

A sacred fire is burning for Jay Bell Redbird. On Saturday, the friends and family of this vibrant, colourful source of joy and life will gather at the Friends United Indigenous artists centre in Cleveland, Cape Breton, to remember, grieve our loss and celebrate this true creative.

Jay Bell Redbird, you live on through the legacy of your gift of art. We will never forget you and the beauty you have brought into our world and into our hearts. Thank you. Wela’lioq.