Francis Kakige

A First Generation Native Artist

Francis Kagige, like Daphne Odjig, is of the first generation of Manitoulin artists, born before World War II, whose work, through individual vision and the influence of Norval Morrisseau, became a founding member of the Woodland or Legend painting style.

His imagery was hard edged and concerned with the relationship between people and nature (often shown without any people in their pictures). He tried to express the feelings and the impact that he experienced hearing traditional Ojibwa stories .

Francis Kagige was born in 1929 and went to the same school in Wikiwemigong as Daphne Odjig.

Francis Kakige is best known for the paintings he provided to illustrate Tales of Nokomis - by Patronella Johnson.