Co-founded by four acclaimed Anishnaabe and Kanien’kehá:ka artists Skawennati, Hannah Claus, Nadia Myre and Caroline Monnet, the centre is committed to highlighting the work of emerging, mid-career and established Indigenous artists through exhibitions, workshops, residencies and curatorial initiatives. 

"A lot of what we wanted to do and which we are continuing to create and move forward with is bringing people together and being able to have a space where people feel comfortable in,” said Executive Director Lori Beavis. 

It was called daphne after Daphne Odjig, the late Odawa-Potawatomi artist.

“We purposely chose a storefront because we wanted people to feel comfortable about coming in - Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Because it can be slightly intimidating to walk into a gallery space,” she said. 

The programming for the first year celebrated four solo exhibitions from Indigenous artists across Quebec, including Teharihulen Michel Savard from Wendake and Innu artist Sonia Robertson.

daphne has a remarkable series of interactive and immersive exhibitions, allowing the public to delve into the world of the First Nations, discovering their history, knowledge and culture.

The daphne recently opened a new space at 5425 avenue Casgrain, and their exhibition Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé is on show from 13 May until 30 June 2023. The artist invites the public into Nee' Shah | Our House to see the importance of awakening sleeping materials as a method of dealing with loss.