Friends Magnet by Benjamin Chee Chee

Oscardo is a leading souvenir and gift supplier featuring some of Canada’s most iconic Indigenous artwork. Since 1997, Oscardo has been an industry leader, paying royalties to 24 artists for every product sold and consulting the artists during development to ensure a beautiful product that fairly represents and promotes their artwork. Known for carrying quality items featuring top designs, Oscardo’s products are found in Indigenous-owned stores and wholesalers, boutiques, museums, public and private art galleries, National Parks and government organizations in every province across the country. 

Indigenous Ownership: Oscardo is part of the Arctic Beverages family. Arctic Beverages is owned by Athabasca Basin Development, Prince Albert Development Corp and Paskwayak Business Development Corporation, collectively representing 13 First Nations and four northern communities.

Benjamin Chee Chee, Ojibway Artist (1944-1977)

Born in Temagami, Ontario, Chee Chee largely taught himself to draw and paint. His father died when he was two months old and he lost track of his mother. One reason behind his drive for success as a painter was his ambition to be reunited with her.

He was a prominent member of the second generation of Woodland painters, a Native Art movement that began in the early nineteen-sixties and has since become one of the most important art schools in Canada.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, he painted in a style influenced by modern abstraction. While most of the young Woodland artists were content to follow the style of the movements founder, Norval Morrisseau, in depicting myths and legends by direct and "primitive" narrative means, Chee Chee pursued a more economical graphic style, a reduction of line and image more in keeping with the mainstream of international modern art.

At the age of thirty-two and at the height of a new-found success as an artist and printmaker, Chee Chee died tragically by committing suicide.