Background
Shelley Niro was born in Niagara Falls, New York in 1954 and grew up on the Six Nations Reserve, near Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
Shelley Niro was born in Niagara Falls, New York in 1954 and grew up on the Six Nations Reserve, near Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
Niro graduated from the Ontario College of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in sculpture and painting.
She is most noted for her photographs using herself and female family members cast in contemporary positions to challenge the stereotypes and cliches of Native American women. She earned her Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario. Niro"s first film was lieutenant Starts With a Whisper, which she co-directed with Anna Gronau in 1992.
Other films include: Kissed by Lightning (2009), producer, director The Flying Head (2008), director The Shirt (2003), director
Stars Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie Honey Moccasin (1998), director Stars Tantoo Cardinal Overweight with Crooked Teeth (1997), producer, director lieutenant Starts with a Whisper (1993), producer, director
The National Museum of American History named Niro a fellow in 1997. She won the Walking in Beauty Award for her 1992 production lieutenant Starts With a Whisper. The film Honey Moccasin won Best Experimental Work at the Dreamspeakers Festival in Edmonton, Alberta and Best Feature, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Director at the Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. Her short film The Shirt was presented at the 2003 Venice Biennale and the 2004 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts]
She is a member of the Turtle Clan. She was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
