Shirley Cheechoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shirley Cheechoo CM
Cheechoo in 2022
Born	1952 (age 72–73) Eastmain, Quebec, Canada
Occupation	Actor, writer, producer, director & visual artist, chancellor
Spouse(s)	Blake Debassige

Shirley Cheechoo CM (Cree: ᔒᓕᒋᒍ born 1952) is a Canadian Cree artist. She is known for her work as an actress, writer, producer, and director. Shirley is especially famous for her play Path With No Moccasins. She also worked a lot with the De-Ba-Jeh-Mu-Jig theatre group.

Her first big chance came in 1985. She was cast in the CBC TV series Spirit Bay. Later, in 1997, she got a role in another CBC show called The Rez. In July 2015, she became the chancellor of Brock University. She was the first woman and the first Indigenous person to hold this important position. She served until 2020.

About Shirley Cheechoo

Shirley Cheechoo was born in 1952 in Eastmain, Quebec. She grew up in Moose Factory and Hearst, Ontario. Shirley spent her early years with her family on traplines. These were areas where people hunted and trapped animals.

When she was nine, she was sent to a residential school. This was the Shingwauk Indian Residential School. Like many other students, Shirley faced very difficult experiences there. She was even told her parents would die if she tried to run away. Her journey through these tough times and her healing are shown in her 1991 play, Path with No Moccasins.

Shirley also took art classes. She studied at the Manitou Arts Foundation in the summer of 1970.

Starting a Theatre Group

Shirley Cheechoo started the De-ba-jeh-mu-jig theatre. This group grew from a children's theatre project. Her partner, Blake Debassige, is a visual artist. He helped the theatre group a lot in its early years. He was on the board of directors and was even the president.

While working with De-ba-jeh-mu-jig, Shirley did many jobs. She was the artistic director, which means she guided the creative side. She was also president of the board. Plus, she handled many office tasks, acted, and wrote plays.

Shirley Cheechoo made history. She is the first First Nations woman in Canada to write, produce, direct, and act in a full-length movie.

Her Creative Work

Shirley first became well-known for her play Path With No Moccasins. Her first time directing a film was with a short movie called Silent Tears. This film won several awards at film festivals. It was even shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival.

Her first full-length movie was Backroads. This film showed the hard lives of Cree women today. Shirley realized that her films could help people. She saw that movies could "ease a pain or raise an issue." So, she decided to focus on filmmaking. She took writing classes, directing workshops, and went to film schools.

Much of Shirley's art is based on her own life. Path With No Moccasins allowed her to share her story. It showed her struggle to keep her identity and her Cree heritage. Silent Tears tells about a very cold winter trip. She went with her parents to a northern trap line when she was eight years old.

To help other Indigenous artists, Shirley and Blake Debassige own Kasheese Studios. This is an art gallery. Shirley is also the president of Spoken Song, a film production company. She also started the Weengushk Film Institute on Manitoulin Island. This institute helps train and guide new filmmakers. In 2018, she launched the annual Weengushk International Film Festival through the institute.

Her artwork is inspired by the Woodlands style. This art style was created by Norval Morrisseau. Shirley's art has been shown all over the world. She has also created art for special projects, including:

• Christmas cards for UNICEF
• Amnesty International
• The Ontario Native Women's Association
• The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Community and Awards

Shirley Cheechoo is a mentor to many in the Native arts community. She is one of Canada's most respected artists. She visits other communities and schools. There, she holds workshops to share her knowledge.

Shirley believes it's important to keep fighting for equality. She wants Indigenous people to have a fair chance to work, live, and create.

In February 2008, Shirley received a Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was for her work in art. It was given by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. In 2013, she also received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award. This award recognized her dedication to education. In 2019, she received the Anishinabek Nation Lifetime Achievement Award.

Plays and Films

Plays

• Path With No Moccasins (1991)
• Tangled Sheets (1994)
• Your Dream Was Mine (2005)

Film Work

• Shadows in Deep Water (?) - director
• Utshimassits: Place of the Boss (1996) - narrator
• Silent Tears (1998) - director, writer
• Backroads (aka Bearwalker) (2000) - director, writer
• Tracks in the Snow (2001) - producer, director
• Pikutiskaau (Mother Earth) (2003) - director
• In Shadow (2003) - director
• Johnny Tootall (2005) - director, writer
• Moose River Crossing (2013) - director, writer

TV Appearances

• Spirit Bay (1984)
• Medicine River (1993)
• The Rez (1996)
• Song of Hiawatha (1997)
• Silent Tears (1998)
• Johnny Greyeyes (2000)
• Backroads (2000)
• Christmas in the Clouds (2001)
• MVP - Mrs. Lemonde (2008)
• Provided the illustrations for Tales the Elders Told by Basil H. Johnston

Awards and Honors

• 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 the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, now Indspire.
• 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 Festival

See also

• Medicine Woman - Television show directed by Shirley Cheechoo.