After several seasons of project based theatre work, Debajehmujig Theatre Group was founded by Shirley Cheechoo, Blake Debassige and a group of like-minded colleagues in the summer of 1984 in West Bay, (M’Cigeeng First Nation) Manitoulin Island, Ontario. The company was created so that Aboriginal youth would see their own lives and their own stories reflected on stage.
Debajehmujig was incorporated under Provincial Charter on September 26th 1986, and in August of 1989, moved to Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve where it remains to this day, with head office on Debajehmujig Lane just down the hill from the performing venue – the Holy Cross Mission Ruins.
Debajehmujig was the first and remains the only professional theatre located on an Indian Reserve. On May 21st 2009 in the 25th year of operation, the company expanded with the opening of the Debajehmujig Creation Centre in the neighbouring community of Manitowaning – a 15,000 square foot multi-disciplinary creation, production, and training centre.