Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: November 19, 2018
• Invested on: May 08, 2019

Shirley Cheechoo, C.M.
James Bay, Quebec
Filmmaker, actor and visual artist Shirley Cheechoo is, above all, a gifted storyteller. Throughout her multifaceted career she has drawn on her First Nations heritage and used art to explore themes of trauma, healing and identity. A revered mentor in Indigenous arts communities, she has promoted creative opportunities for fellow artists as the founder of both the De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Company and the Weengushk Film Institute. As the first Indigenous person and woman to serve as chancellor of Brock University, she has shared her leadership and wisdom with new audiences.