Jim Chee
Encyclopedia
Jim Chee is one of two Navajo Tribal Police
detectives in a series of mystery
novels by Tony Hillerman
. Unlike his superior Joe Leaphorn
, the "Legendary Lieutenant", Chee wants to be a staunch believer in traditional Navajo culture; indeed, he is studying to be a traditional healer at the same time that he is a police officer.
ways and become, essentially, white, which he cannot do. Chee next falls in love with Janet Pete, a half-Navajo, half-white lawyer attached to the local prosecutor's office. Though this romance starts out strong, it, too, disintegrates. Janet cannot give up many of her ways, yet wants Chee to leave the reservation. Eventually she betrays him, and they part ways. Chee's third, and, to date, final romance is with Bernadette Manuelito, a full-blooded Navajo and member of the Tribal Police. They marry at the conclusion of Skeleton Man. At the same time, Chee's uncle Frank Sam Nakai tells him that to be a good shaman he must 'believe and not believe.' Chee interprets this to mean he cannot be a good shaman, and is devastated.
Chee and Leaphorn do not get along terribly well at first. Leaphorn views Chee (justifiably) as too hot-headed and impatient, while Chee in turn respects Leaphorn but sees him as too stodgy. Chee is willing, however, to call on Leaphorn whenever he is stuck with a particular problem in a case. Eventually the two men develop a healthy respect for each other, if not a deep friendship.
Hillerman writes in his autobiography, Seldom Disappointed
(2001), that he created Jim Chee as an alternative to Leaphorn for the novel People of Darkness
(1980) because the novel is set on the Checkerboard Reservation, and Hillerman felt that Leaphorn was too hardened to fit into the plot. He needed someone more naive, and Chee fit the bill.
, Chee was played by Lou Diamond Phillips
.
Three of the Hillerman novels (Skinwalkers
, Coyote Waits
, and A Thief of Time
) were adapted for television as part of the PBS series Mystery!
, as part of its American Mystery! specials. In these adaptations, Chee was played by actor Adam Beach
. Robert Redford
also serving as the executive producer
in all four film adaptations.
Navajo Tribal Police
The Navajo Nation Police is the law enforcement agency on the Navajo Nation in the Southwestern United States. It is under the Navajo Division of Public Safety. It is headed by a Chief of Police, six Police Captains and eight Police Lieutenants...
detectives in a series of mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
novels by Tony Hillerman
Tony Hillerman
Tony Hillerman was an award-winning American author of detective novels and non-fiction works best known for his Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels...
. Unlike his superior Joe Leaphorn
Joe Leaphorn
Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is a fictional character created by American mystery writer Tony Hillerman, one of two officers of the Navajo Tribal Police that feature in a number of novels. The other officer is Jim Chee.- Profile :...
, the "Legendary Lieutenant", Chee wants to be a staunch believer in traditional Navajo culture; indeed, he is studying to be a traditional healer at the same time that he is a police officer.
Profile
Chee has many personal troubles over the course of the series. He first falls in love with Mary Landon, a white schoolteacher teaching primary school on the reservation, but finds that they will never be compatible She wants him to give up many of his NavajoNavajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
ways and become, essentially, white, which he cannot do. Chee next falls in love with Janet Pete, a half-Navajo, half-white lawyer attached to the local prosecutor's office. Though this romance starts out strong, it, too, disintegrates. Janet cannot give up many of her ways, yet wants Chee to leave the reservation. Eventually she betrays him, and they part ways. Chee's third, and, to date, final romance is with Bernadette Manuelito, a full-blooded Navajo and member of the Tribal Police. They marry at the conclusion of Skeleton Man. At the same time, Chee's uncle Frank Sam Nakai tells him that to be a good shaman he must 'believe and not believe.' Chee interprets this to mean he cannot be a good shaman, and is devastated.
Chee and Leaphorn do not get along terribly well at first. Leaphorn views Chee (justifiably) as too hot-headed and impatient, while Chee in turn respects Leaphorn but sees him as too stodgy. Chee is willing, however, to call on Leaphorn whenever he is stuck with a particular problem in a case. Eventually the two men develop a healthy respect for each other, if not a deep friendship.
Hillerman writes in his autobiography, Seldom Disappointed
Seldom Disappointed
Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir is the 2001 autobiography of author Tony Hillerman. The title reflects the attitude that he learned as a child living on a farm in Oklahoma; if one learns not to have unrealistic expectations, one will often be pleasantly surprised and seldom disappointed....
(2001), that he created Jim Chee as an alternative to Leaphorn for the novel People of Darkness
People Of Darkness
People of Darkness is the first Tony Hillerman novel to feature Officer Jim Chee. The plot involves a stolen box and an explosion at an oil well. The novel introduces one of Chee's long-running love interests, white schoolteacher Mary Landon. The ambiguous status of peyote usage within both Navajo...
(1980) because the novel is set on the Checkerboard Reservation, and Hillerman felt that Leaphorn was too hardened to fit into the plot. He needed someone more naive, and Chee fit the bill.
Appearances in other media
In the 1991 theatrical film adaptation of The Dark WindThe Dark Wind
The Dark Wind is the second Tony Hillerman novel to feature Officer Jim Chee. Recent college graduate Jim Chee has just taken a job with the Navajo Tribal Police in Arizona, where he helps keep the peace with his superior Captain Largo on land earmarked for joint use by the Navajo and the Hopi...
, Chee was played by Lou Diamond Phillips
Lou Diamond Phillips
Lou Diamond Phillips is an American film, television, and stage actor and director. His breakthrough came when he starred in the film La Bamba. He earned a supporting actor Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in Stand and Deliver and a Tony Award nomination for his role in The King and I...
.
Three of the Hillerman novels (Skinwalkers
Skinwalkers (novel)
Skinwalkers a mystery novel, is the seventh book by author Tony Hillerman.-Plot summary:When an unknown assailant tries to kill Officer Jim Chee by firing a shotgun into his trailer, and three other people are found murdered in different locations around the Navajo reservation, Chee and Lieutenant...
, Coyote Waits
Coyote Waits
Coyote Waits is a novel by Tony Hillerman. It was adapted as a TV film, which aired in 2003.-Coyote Waits :The plot involves rock formation vandalism, a dead policeman, an elderly Navajo accused of his murder, a bottle of expensive scotch, and a book on Navajo witchcraft beliefs.This book...
, and A Thief of Time
A Thief of Time
A Thief of Time is the eighth novel by author Tony Hillerman.The plot involves the Anasazi, a missing archeologist, a stolen backhoe, and people who are termed "pot hunters".Characters include Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee....
) were adapted for television as part of the PBS series Mystery!
Mystery!
Mystery! is an episodic television series that debuted in 1980 in the USA. It airs on PBS and is produced by WGBH...
, as part of its American Mystery! specials. In these adaptations, Chee was played by actor Adam Beach
Adam Beach
Adam Ruebin Beach is a Canadian Saulteaux actor.He is best known for his roles as Tommy on Walker, Texas Ranger, Kickin' Wing in Joe Dirt, Marine Private First Class Ira Hayes in Flags of Our Fathers, Private Ben Yazzie in Windtalkers, Dr...
. Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
also serving as the executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
in all four film adaptations.