Daphne Odjig

Daphne Odjig, CM OBC (b. September 11, 1919), is a Canadian First Nations artist of Odawa-Potawatomi-English heritage. Her many awards include the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Award. Her painting is often characterized as Woodlands Style. Daphne Odjig was the driving force behind the Indian Group of Seven.

Biography

Daphne was born in Wikwemikong, the principal village on the Manitoulin Island Unceded Indian Reserve, to parents Dominic and Joyce. She is the eldest of four children with siblings Stanley, Winnifred and Donavan. She is descended on her father's side from the great Potawatomi Chief Black Partridge. Her mother (née Peachey) met and married Dominic in England where he was serving during the war.

Daphne's first and perhaps biggest artistic influence was her paternal grandfather Jonas with whom the young family lived. “My grandfather played a great role in my life – he nurtured my creative spirit – he was the first one I ever drew with...he was my first mentor". Daphne was also influenced by her mother who did embroidery work and her father who liked to draw war scenes and his officers from the First World War. Daphne asserts: “Art was always a part of our lives”.