Benjamin Chee Chee

Kenneth Thomas Chee Chee (26 March 1944 – 14 March 1977[1]), known as Benjamin Chee Chee, was a Canadian artist of Ojibwa descent, born in Temagami, Ontario.[2] Chee Chee's early life was troubled and he lost track of his mother, whom he spent many years searching for. He moved to Montreal in 1965 where he developed his love of drawing, and moved back to Ottawa in 1973.[3]

Goose in Flight, an original Chee Chee painting as seen in The Canadian Encyclopedia

Benjamin Chee Chee
Born(1944-03-26)26 March 1944
Temagami, Ontario, Canada
Died14 March 1977(1977-03-14) (aged 32)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
EducationSelf-taught
Known forPainting
MovementWoodland School of Art

Chee Chee's first exhibition was held in 1973 at the University of Ottawa.[2] Soon after he gained fame as he developed his unique style of clear graceful lines and minimal colour, depicting birds and animals. Though his art featured a great deal of iconography often used by Canadian First Nations artists, Chee Chee had denied his art had symbolic meaning. He instead referred to the animals featured in his art as "creatures of the present".[3] He also specifically referred to himself as an Ojibway artist, as opposed to allowing himself to be categorized under the broader net of simply an "Indian" artist.

After finding his mother and achieving success as an artist, Chee Chee died by suicide in an Ottawa jail in 1977.[4] He was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.[1] Chee Chee's work has been exhibited posthumously throughout Canada.

References
  1. "Find-a-grave site". Archived from the original on 12 April 2019.
  2. "Native artist Benjamin Cheechee". www.native-art-in-canada.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  3. Phillips, Ruth B. "Benjamin Chee Chee". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. Evans, Al (2004). Chee Chee: A Study of Aboriginal Suicide. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 978-0-7735-7178-5.

Sources
  • Evans, Alvin L. (2004). Chee Chee: A Study of Aboriginal Suicide. McGill-Queens University Press. ISBN 978-0773526877.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lerner, Loren R.; Williamson, Mary F. (1991). Art and Architecture in Canada. U Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0802058560.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Matuz, Roger (1998). St. James Guide to Native North American Artists. The University of Michigan. ISBN 978-1558622210.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • "Native artist Benjamin Chee Chee". www.native-art-in-canada.com. 2006.
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