Shirley Cheechoo
Encyclopedia
Shirley Cheechoo is an award winning Cree
actress, writer, producer, director, and visual artist, probably best known for her solo-voice or monodrama
play Path With No Moccasins, as well as her work with De-Ba-Jeh-Mu-Jig theatre group. Her first break came in 1985 when she was cast on the CBC's first nations TV series Spirit Bay
, and later, in 1997, she found a role on the CBC's TV series The Rez
.
During her time at Debaj, Shirley fulfilled the role of artistic director
, president of the board of directors, as well as fulfilling much of the administrative roles, actor, and playwright.
Shirley is the first First Nations
woman to "write, produce, direct, and act in a feature length film from Canada"
Shirley realized that she could "ease a pain or raise an issue with her film work" and so dedicated herself to creating film by enrolling in writing classes, director's labs, acting workshops and film schools
Much of her art is based on biographical elements. Path With No Moccasins gave Shirley the opportunity to "speak about her life and the struggle to retain her identity, and Cree heritage". Silent Tears chronicles the events of a "harsh winter trip with her parents to a northern trap line when she was eight years old".
In order to promote Aboriginal artists, Shirley and Blake Debassige co-own Kasheese Studios art gallery. She is also the president of Spoken Song film production company and founded the Weengushk Film Institute on Manitoulin Island
that will train, develop and guide independent filmmakers.
Her artwork is inspired by Woodlands School
, which is a concept given birth by Norval Morrisseau
and her art has been exhibited around the world, and has commissions include
Shirley is concerned with Indigenous people's complacency with "small advancements and the slight changes that appear when it comes to equality and respect" and believes that "We must continue to fight in the most positive way to try and find a level playing field for Indigenous people to work, live, and create in the main".
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
actress, writer, producer, director, and visual artist, probably best known for her solo-voice or monodrama
Monodrama
A monodrama is a theatrical or operatic piece played by a single actor or singer, usually portraying one character.- Monodrama in opera :...
play Path With No Moccasins, as well as her work with De-Ba-Jeh-Mu-Jig theatre group. Her first break came in 1985 when she was cast on the CBC's first nations TV series Spirit Bay
Spirit Bay
Spirit Bay was an aboriginal family television show of 14 half-hour episodes that aired on CBC and TV Ontario from 1980 to 1986. The show focuses on the lives of townsfolk on an Ojibwe reservation town in MacDiarmid, Ontario. Here, the residents have adapted to white society while retaining...
, and later, in 1997, she found a role on the CBC's TV series The Rez
The Rez
The Rez was a first nations, Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1996 to 1998. Most of the characters were based on W.P...
.
The De-ba-jeh-mu-jig years
Shirley founded De-ba-jeh-mu-jig theatre, which developed out of the children's theatre. After starting the theatre company, partner Blake Debassige, a visual artist, served on the board of directors and as president of the board during the early years of De-Ba-Jeh-Mu-Jig theatre group.During her time at Debaj, Shirley fulfilled the role of artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
, president of the board of directors, as well as fulfilling much of the administrative roles, actor, and playwright.
Shirley is the first First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
woman to "write, produce, direct, and act in a feature length film from Canada"
Plays, films and other artistic works
Shirley first gained national attention with Path With No Moccasins. Her directorial debut was with a film called Silent Tears, which "won several film festival awards for Best Short Film." and was "screened at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival"Shirley realized that she could "ease a pain or raise an issue with her film work" and so dedicated herself to creating film by enrolling in writing classes, director's labs, acting workshops and film schools
Much of her art is based on biographical elements. Path With No Moccasins gave Shirley the opportunity to "speak about her life and the struggle to retain her identity, and Cree heritage". Silent Tears chronicles the events of a "harsh winter trip with her parents to a northern trap line when she was eight years old".
In order to promote Aboriginal artists, Shirley and Blake Debassige co-own Kasheese Studios art gallery. She is also the president of Spoken Song film production company and founded the Weengushk Film Institute on Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is a Canadian island in Lake Huron, in the province of Ontario. It is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. In addition to the historic Anishinaabe and European settlement of the island, archeological discoveries at Sheguiandah have demonstrated Paleo-Indian and...
that will train, develop and guide independent filmmakers.
Her artwork is inspired by Woodlands School
Woodlands School
The Woodlands School is a movement in Canadian art; see Woodlands Style.There is a number of schools called Woodlands School or have similar names:* The Woodlands College Park High School, Montgomery County, Texas, USA...
, which is a concept given birth by Norval Morrisseau
Norval Morrisseau
Norval Morrisseau, CM , also known as Copper Thunderbird, was an Aboriginal Canadian artist. Known as the "Picasso of the North", Morrisseau created works depicting the legends of his people, the cultural and political tensions between native Canadian and European traditions, his existential...
and her art has been exhibited around the world, and has commissions include
- Christmas cards for UNICEF
- Amnesty International
- The Ontario Native Women's Association
- The Hospital for Sick Children
Cultural work
She is a mentor to many in the Native arts community and one of Canada's most well-known and respected artists. She visits other communities and schools and holds workshops. On the topic of visiting schools to host acting and playwrighting workshops, Shirley has saidthe kids that come into the theatre, into the drama workshops, are the kids that I pick. I feel that they need some kind of self-esteem, and drama does it. Anything in the arts gives these kids a lot of self-esteem ... the arts are really important for children and they're not taught in the schools
Shirley is concerned with Indigenous people's complacency with "small advancements and the slight changes that appear when it comes to equality and respect" and believes that "We must continue to fight in the most positive way to try and find a level playing field for Indigenous people to work, live, and create in the main".
awards
- Best Short Film - Silent Tears
- Telefilm Canada/Television Northern Canada Award for Best Canadian Aboriginal Language Television Program - Silent Tears (1998)
- Best Director. Reel World Film Festival (Toronto 2000)
- Lifetime Achievement Award in the area of art (2008). Given by National Aboriginal Achievement FoundationNational Aboriginal Achievement FoundationThe National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is a nationally registered non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to deliver programs that provide the tools necessary for Aboriginal peoples in Canada, especially youth to achieve their potential.-About:To date the Foundation through its...
(Naaf). - CTV Fellowship Award
- Eagle Spirit Award
- Independent Filmmaker of the Year (Arizona International Film Festival) (2002).
- Best Film for Johnny Tootall at the 2005 American Indian Film FestivalAmerican Indian Film FestivalThe American Indian Film Festival is an annual non-profit film festival in San Francisco. It is the world's oldest venue dedicated to Native American films and prepared the way for the 1979 formation of the American Indian Film Institute....
.
Plays
- Path With No Moccasins (1991)
- Tangled Sheets (1994)
- Your Dream Was Mine (2005)
Film
- Johnny TootallJohnny TootallJohnny Tootall is a 2005 television film written and directed by Shirley Cheechoo and was filmed around Vancouver Island, British Columbia with the Ahousaht Nations people...
(2005) Director, writer - In Shadow (2003) Director
- Shadows in Deep Water (?) Director
- Pikutiskaau (Mother Earth) (2003) Director
- Tracks in the Snow (2001) Productor, Director
- Backroads (aka Bearwalker) (2000) Director, writer
- Silent Tears (1998) Director, writer
Media Appearances
- M.V.P - Mrs. Lemonde (2008)
- Christmas in the Clouds (2001)
- Johnny Greyeyes (2000)
- Backroads (2000)
- Silent Tears (1998)
- Song of Hiawatha (1997)
- The RezThe RezThe Rez was a first nations, Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1996 to 1998. Most of the characters were based on W.P...
(1996) - Medicine River (1993)
- Spirit BaySpirit BaySpirit Bay was an aboriginal family television show of 14 half-hour episodes that aired on CBC and TV Ontario from 1980 to 1986. The show focuses on the lives of townsfolk on an Ojibwe reservation town in MacDiarmid, Ontario. Here, the residents have adapted to white society while retaining...
(1984)
- Provided the illustrations for Tales the Elders Told by Basil H. JohnstonBasil H. JohnstonBasil H. Johnston O.Ont, Anishinaabe writer, storyteller, language teacher and scholar, was born on the Wasauksing First Nation in Ontario, Canada, on July 13, 1929, to Mary and Rufus Johnston...
.