Daphne Odjig
(1919 – 2016)
Spotlighting an Indigenous Artist of North Eastern Ontario
Ishpaamijigaazad owa Giizhaa Agaa Yaajig Mazinibiiged owi Giiwedin-Epigishimag Ontario
Daphne Odjig was born on Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Manitoulin Island, Ontario in 1919 to an Anishinaabe father, Dominic Odjig, and a British mother, Joyce Peachy. Odjig spent her early life on Manitoulin Island and due to a childhood illness was primarily educated by her grandfather, Jonas Odjig, a stone carver. Her education focused on drawing, carving, and oral family traditions.
Daphne Odjig agii n’daadizi odi Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Manidoo Minis, Ontario apii 1919 owa Anishinaabe osan, Dominic Odjig, miinwaa owa Gichi Gaaming ogashan, Joyce Peachy. Odjig agii ayaa epiichi binoojiinid odi Manidoo Minis miinwaa zaam onji binoojiin aakoziwin memdage agii gikinomaagoon mishoomsan, Jonas Odjig, owa asiniin agaa mazinkodang. Ado gikendaasowin agii aawon owi mazinibiigewin, mazinkojigewin, miinwaa dibaajimowin inodewiziwinan Anishinaabe aadiziwinan.
Daphne Odjig, Tribute to Great Chiefs of the Past, 1973. Acrylic and graphite on paper. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury.
Daphne Odjig, Minaadenjigan gewe Ishpi Gimaawig Zhaazhigwa Agaa Bimisemigag, 1973. Zhizhoobiigan miinwaa asiniikaan zhibiiginaatig zhiwe mazinigining. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury (Mazinibiigaanag enji Ginowendimindwaa odi Sudbury).
Faced with racial prejudice, Odjig temporarily anglicized her surname to Fisher in an effort to suppress her indigeneity. Odjig experienced a cultural awakening while attending the fourth annual Wiikwemkoong Powwow in 1964. The gathering redirected her artistic practice to include Anishinaabe oral history and graphic styles that she learned from her grandfather Jonas.
Nakweshkang dibasenjigewin, Odjig ojina agii nikaazan zhaagnaashi noziwin owi Fisher owi gajitood awii nigonang ado anishinaabewin. Odjig agii ayaan inaadiziwin ombishkaamigag epiichi ayaad owi ekwa niiwin ensa biboon Wiikwemkoong Jiingidamiwin apii 1964. Owi maawaanjidiwin agii aanjinaan ado mazinibiigewin awii digosing Anishinaabe gete aajimowin miinwaa bkaan dnowaa mazinibiigewin nikiiyaa agaa onji gikendang newen mishomsan Jonas.
During her active six-decade-long career, Odjig’s role in advocating for Indigenous artists was instrumental in developing a platform for contemporary Indigenous artistry both domestically and internationally. In 1982, she received an honorary degree, Doctor of Letters, from Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, in recognition of her contributions as an artist. Odjig received numerous honors including an Eagle Feather from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, the Order of Canada (1986), and Doctor of Law, honoris causa, conferred by the University of Toronto.
Epiichi aawong ado nigwadwaaswi biboon anankiiwin, Odjig ado nakiiwin owi giigidotamowaad Giizhaa Agaa Yaajig mezinibiigejig agii aawon owi zhichigaademigag owi waanji temigag owi nongwa Giizhaa Agaa Yaajig mazinibiigewin neniish gwa endinakii-ing miinwaa maziwe kamig. Apii 1982, agii debinaan minaadenjigewin mazinigan, Doctor of Letters, onji Laurentian Ishpi Gikinomaage Gamig, Sudbury, Ontario, owi nisidiwinigaadeg ado miigwewin aawid mazinibiiged. Odjig agii debinaanan niibna minaadenjigewinan e’digosing Mgis Miigwan onji Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, owi Order of Canada (1986), miinwaa Doctor of Law, honoris causa, miigwewaad owi Ishpi Gikinomaage Gamig owi Toronto.
Odjig is represented in collections such as the Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa, Ontario; Government of Israel, Jerusalem; Government of Newfoundland; Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, Manitoba; McMichael Canadian Collection, Kleinberg, Ontario; and the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, Quebec. As of November 2009, Daphne Odjig was the first and only female Indigenous artist to have a solo exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada.
Odjig waabmigaaza zhiwe maandoniganan dibishko gonaa Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa, Ontario; Government of Israel, Jerusalem; Government of Newfoundland; Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, Manitoba; McMichael Canadian Collection, Kleinberg, Ontario; miinwaa owi Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, Quebec. Apii dash Baashkaakodin-giizis 2009, Daphne Odjig agii aawi ntam miinwaa bezhig goweta Giizhaa Agaa Yaajig Kwe mezinibiiged awii ayaang onjike waabmdowewin ado mazinibiigewinan odi National Gallery maampii Gaanada.
Daphne Odjig, So Big, 1980. Acrylic on panel. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury.
Daphne Odjig, Aapaji Michaamigad, 1980. Zhizhoobiigan zhiwe aasimaatig. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury (Mazinibiigaanag enji Ginowendimindwaa odi Sudbury).
Daphne Odjig, Blending as One, 1985. Acrylic on canvas. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury.
Daphne Odjig, Wiiji Bezhigwong, 1985. Zhizhoobii-igan zhiwe nigaasimoonigining. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury (Mazinibiigaanag enji Ginowendimindwaa odi Sudbury).
Daphne Odjig, Spiritual Renewal, 1984. Acrylic on canvas. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury.
Daphne Odjig, Jichaag Aanji-maajiiging, 1984. Zhizhoobii-igan zhiwe nigaasimoonigining. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury (Mazinibiigaanag enji Ginowendimindwaa odi Sudbury).
Laurentian University Museum and Art Centre, now the Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury, wanted to commission an artwork from a prestigious Northeastern Ontario Indigenous female artist for the institution to reflect the colonial history of the region. Spiritual Renewal was the result of this commission that now holds an important place in the collection.
Laurentian Ishpi Gikinomaage Gamig Museum miinwaa Art Centre, nongo ezhinikaadeg Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury (Mazinibiigaanag enji Ginowendimindwaa odi Sudbury), agaa dowendang awii anookiid mazinibiigan onji e’shpendaagozid Epigishimag Ontario Giizhaa Agaa Yaajig kwe mezinibiiged owi wiigwaam awii waabmdowemigag owi oshki aki dowaabmjigewin zhaazhigwa agaa zhiwebak zhiwe akiing. Jichaag Aanji-maajiiging agii aawon agaa onjibaamigag maanda anokiiwin nongo etemigag gechi piitendaagwog zhiwe maandonigewin.
Daphne Odjig was commissioned by Pamela Krueger (the Director of the Laurentian University Museum and Art Centre from 1977 to 1995) to produce a painting in May 1984. Originally, the acquisitions committee was looking to purchase a pre-existing artwork. Upon reaching out to Dr. Odjig, however, a new painting, a diptych of two four-foot-wide panels was decided on. The commission was funded by the B.A. McDonald Memorial Fund and The Canada Council Art Bank. Confirmed in June 1984, the commissioned artwork was completed and delivered by December 1984.
Daphne Odjig agii anoonigoon owa Pamela Krueger (owi Gimaa owi Laurentian Ishpi Gikinomaage Gamig Museum miinwaa Art Centre onji 1977 apiinish 1995) awii zhitood mazinibiigewin apii Zaagibagaagiizis 1984. Oshki ntam, owi debinamiwaad anookiijig agii inendamoog awii giizhpinadowaad giizhaa etemigag mazinibiigan. Apii ginonaawaad owa Dr. Odjig, dash, oshki mazinibiigan, owi maamowising niish niiwizid enigogidewaag nebigaag agii giizhendamoog awii aawong. Owi anookiiwin agii dibagaademigag newen owi B.A. McDonald Memorial Fund miinwaa The Canada Council Art Bank. Debwechigaadeg apii Odemini-giizis 1984, owi agaa anookiing mazinibiigan agii giizhichigaademigad miinwaa biijigaademigag apii Manidoo-giizisoons giizis 1984.
Daphne Odjig, description of Spiritual Renewal, enclosed with correspondence to Pamela Krueger, sent 19 October 1984, received 22 October 1984.
Daphne Odjig, dibaajimad owi ayaawong Jichaag Aanji-maajiiging, digosin owi maajiibiigan owa Pamela Krueger, agaa niindaaweng 19 Binaakwe-giizis 1984, agaa debinigaadeg received 22 Binaakwe-giizis 1984.
“Spiritual renewal takes place within the heart and soul of all who seek it.”
Daphne Odjig, 1984
“Jichaag Aanji-maajiiging temigad zhiwe biinji ode miinwaa ojichaag kina gewe nendowaabmdamijig.”
Daphne Odjig 1984
Spiritual Renewal follows the same themes as earlier commissioned pieces; themes of “courage in adversity, survival in the face of repression, dignity and hope despite the loss of land and place and justice.”1 Along with her invoice, Odjig sent a letter in October 1984 detailing the narrative of the panels.
Jichaag Aanji-maajiiging noopinadaan naasaab inaajimowinan newen woshme zhaazhigwa agaa anookiing mazinibiigewinan; inaajimowin owi “mashkowendamang zhiwe zinagendaagwog, zhaabiwiiwin owi nakweshkigaadeg majiginigowin, minaadendamowin miinwaa bagosendamowin boochigo agii naajitoong aki miinwaa ayaawin miinwaa gwayak doodaagewin.”1 Miinwaa owi aanke ado adaawe mazina’igan, Odjig agii niindaawen maajiibiigan apii Binaakwe-giizis 1984 moshki ozhibii’ang dibaajimowin newen mazinibiiganan.
Daphne Odjig, Spiritual Renewal (detail of left panel), 1984. Acrylic on canvas. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury.
Daphne Odjig, Jichaag Aanji-maajiiging (dibaajimowin owi nepaaji nibagaag mazinibiigan), 1984. Zhizhoobii-igan zhiwe nigaasimoonigining. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury (Mazinibiigaanag enji Ginowendimindwaa odi Sudbury).
“Spiritual Renewal is a historic portrayal of the spiritual cultural shock associated with the arrival of White man’s religion. Prior to the arrival of the missionaries, the Indian had a Spirituality which was part and parcel of their total existence. Respect and Reverence for the Great Spirit was integrated throughout all activities. The Indian Spiritual ceremonies were condemned as heretical and pagan.”
“Jichaag Aanji-maajiiging aawon gichi mewizha agaa zhiwebak owi jichaag inaadiziwin maanendaagwog e’nowendaagwog owi agii abi digoshinoomigag Waabshkii-ed inamewin. Jibwaa abi digoshinowaad gewe mekadewikwanayejig, owa Anishinaabe agii ayaan Manidoo Aadiziwin owi agaa aawong bezhig newen kina e’digosing ado bimaadiziwiniwaa. Minaadenjigaadeg miinwaa Gitchitwaawendaagwog owa Gitchi Manidoo agii digosijigaademigad kina dinakimigiziwinan. Newen Anishinaabe Manidookewinan agii mamazhindaagwod aawong debwemigasinag izhitiwaawin miinwaa gaawii gego debewitiziing.”
“The first part of the panel shows the arrival of the missionaries and suggests confusion, followed by renunciation of the old values. The image clinging to a cross represents the near death of the Indian spirit.”
“Owi ntam etemigag owi nebigaag waabmdowemigad owi abi digoshinowaad mekadewikwanayejig miinwaa nendaagwog giiwashkweyendamowin, ani temigad owi bigidinigaadeg newen gete naagijigewinan. Owa mezinishing majiginamaakwiid jiibayaatigwong waabmdowemigad owi gegaa niboomigag owi Anishinaabe Jichaag.”
“The second panel depicts the return of their spiritual activities. One of the ceremonies that fortunately survived the cultural onslaught of the early missionaries is the burning of sweetgrass. It is a spiritual as well as symbolic ritual, the purpose being to cleanse the mind of negative thoughts and emotions which separate man from the Great Spirit.”
“Owa ekwa niizh nebigaag waabmdowemigad owi biskaabiimigag manidokewin zhichigewinan. Bezhig owi manidookewinan agaa minaaji waankiimigad owi inaadiziwin mookiitaagaadeg gewe mekadewikwanayejig agii aawon jaagizigaadeg wiingash. Owi aawon manidokewin miinwaa gikinwaaji zhichigewin, owi enaabidag awii biintoong inendamowin newen maanaaji inendamowinan miinwaa izyayaawinan owi bakenind bemaadizid ngoji owa Gitchi Manidoo.”
Daphne Odjig, Spiritual Renewal (detail of right panel), 1984. Acrylic on canvas. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury.
Daphne Odjig, Jichaag Aanji-maajiiging (dibaajimowin owi gwayak nibagaag masinibiigan), 1984. Zhizhoobii-igan zhiwe nigaasimoonigining. LUMAC Collection, Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury (Mazinibiigaanag enji Ginowendimindwaa odi Sudbury).
Endnotes
1 Bonnie Devine, Robert Houle, and Duke Redbird, The Drawings and Paintings of Daphne Odjig: A Retrospective Exhibition (Ottawa, ON: National Gallery of Canada, 2007), 30.
More Information
Odjig, Daphne, Beth Southcott, and Rosamond M. Vanderburgh. A Paintbrush in My Hand. Toronto, ON: Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc., 1992.
Gikendamowin agaa Dinigaademigag
1 Bonnie Devine, Robert Houle, miinwaa Duke Redbird, The Drawings and Paintings of Daphne Odjig: A Retrospective Exhibition [Newen Mazinibiiganan miinwaa Mazinibiiganag owa Daphne Odjig: Owi Shkweaang Naabiwin Waabmdowegan] (Ottawa, ON: National Gallery of Canada, 2007), 30.
Odjig, Daphne, Beth Southcott, miinwaa Rosamond M. Vanderburgh. Zhishoobii’iganaatig Nininjiing. Toronto, ON: Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc., 1992.
Text by Ally Zmijowskyj Carlos and Kaylee Verkruisen in consultation with Deanna Nebenionquit
Zhibiigan owa Ally Zmijowskyj Carlos miinwaa Kaylee Verkruisen owi ginonaawaad owa Deanna Nebenionquit
