'Indian Group of Seven' artist Daphne Odjig dead at 97

Canadian Indigenous painter and printmaker Daphne Odjig has died at the age of 97.

Theinternationallyrecognized artist had been in a long-term care facility in Kelowna, B.C., but lived and painted in the Shuswap for many years.

Her vibrant workhelped shapeCanadian historyby bringingFirst Nations voices and political issues into the mainstream, particularly during the1960sand '70s.

"The doors weren't open to us," Odjigoncesaid in a CBC interview,describing what it was like asan Indigenous artist starting out."So we had a reason to tell the people who we are and what we can do."

In 2005, the Kamloops Art Gallery hosted an exhibition of her work.

Tania Willard was the Aboriginal Curator in residence at the KAG.

She's also a Secwepemc artist and spoke to Daybreak about Odjig's influence.

To listen to the full interview, click on the link: 'Indian Group of Seven' artist Daphne Odjig dead at 97.