Thomas Sewid is as a Kwakwaka’wakw/Cree First Nation who was born in Alert Bay off northeastern Vancouver Island in 1965. He became interested in his people’s art as a boy watching the great carvers that are no longer with us creating. His father took him to the carving sheds to[…]
Read More »William Wasden Jr., or Wak̕analagalis ‘The-River-Flows-Through-Him-Forever’ was born at ʼYa̱lis (Alert Bay), British Columbia on October 14, 1967. Chief T̕sesti’lela Wa’kas Simon Dick initially taught William basic art forms at a very young age. When he was 12, he was enrolled in Chief and Master Carver Douglas Cranmer’s art classes at Alert Bay.[…]
Read More »Sonia Triebwasser is a Kwakwaka’wakw artist born September 25, 1972 in New Westminster, British Columbia. Sonia has been carving since 1994. She completed two years of Jewellery Design courses at Vancouver Community College. She primarily works in gold, silver and wood. Sonia is especially skilled in creating Jewellery with gemstones[…]
Read More »Joe R. Wilson was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia in 1966. His tribal affiliation is ‘Na_mg_is from ‘Ya_lis of the Kwakwa_ka_’wakw nations. He is a grandson of the late ‘Na_mg_is Hereditary Chief K’odi U’dzistalis (Alvin Edgar Alfred). Joe began carving at the age of 21 after being inspired by[…]
Read More »Steve Smith was born in the Kwagiulth Nation of Campbell River, British Columbia in 1968. At the age of 20 his father Harris Smith-Lalkawilas introduced Steve to carving and painting. After his lengthy apprenticeship, Steve branched out on his own and has since developed his own innovation and distinctive style[…]
Read More »Rod Smith (Galuyagmi “Great First Birth”) was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1966 and now resides in Qualicum Beach, BC. Rod is an artist who discovered his love of art and learned his craft under the the watchful eye of his father, the late Kwakwaka’wakw artist Harris Smith (Lalkawilas).[…]
Read More »Ray Scow was born in the village of Alert Bay, British Columbia in 1965. He is one of seven brothers. Ray’s grandfather was a chief, and as a result, Ray grew up with a strong sense of the culture and traditions of his heritage. Ray has worked alongside one of[…]
Read More »Rupert Scow was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia in 1957. He comes from a long line of carvers and grew up with a strong sense of cultural and traditional art. His great grandfather was Chief John Scow and his great grandfather on his mother’s side was acclaimed artist Mungo[…]
Read More »Russell Smith was born March 19, 1950 in Alert Bay, British Columbia. At the Northeast Coast of Vancouver Island, Alert Bay is part of the Kwakwaka’wakw territory that reaches the adjacent mainland and covers the many Islands inbetween. The Kwakwaka’wakw – "speakers of Kwakwala" – or Kwakiutl Nations, are the[…]
Read More »Carrie Matilpi was born in Vancouver in 1973 and holds Kolus, or Baby Thunderbird, as her crest. Carrie works in the traditional Kwakwaka’wakw style and is best known for her beautiful gold and silver Jewellery. She learned to engrave from her father, Charles Harper. She has been carving since 1996[…]
Read More »David Neel was born in 1960 and is from the Kwakwaka’wakw culture group of the central coast of British Columbia and northern Vancouver Island. David was born into an innovative family of artists. David’s great uncle is acclaimed artist Mungo Martin, his great grandfather is Charlie James and his grandmother[…]
Read More »Betty Joe was born in Duncan, British Columbia in 1967. Betty takes the Sea Wolf as her family crest Betty learned to carve under the guidance of Simon Charlie. Betty’s connection to the Charlie family comes through her grandmother. Her father is Abraham Joe, and Abraham Joe’s mother is Anna[…]
Read More »Maynard was born in 1973 in Campbell River, British Columbia. He is a descendant of both the Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish nations and has thus inherited a unique blend of culture and tradition. Artistically, although he began drawing at the age of six, it was in his mid-teens that Maynard[…]
Read More »Klatle-bhi (pronounced “Cloth-Bay”) was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia in 1966. He began his life as an artist studying the works of his ancestors featured in museums and galleries. Klatle-bhi spent many hours with artists Beau Dick, Wayne Alfred, Wade Baker and Rick Harry, absorbing their understanding and knowledge[…]
Read More »Andy Everson was born in Comox, British Columbia in 1972. He is named “Nagadzi” after his grandfather, Chief Andy Frank. Andy began drawing at an early age and has developed his Kwakiutl art in various mediums, from beautiful limited edition prints and giclees to designing and painting Chilkat blankets for[…]
Read More »Landon was born in Kimberley, British Columbia in 1981. He began carving in 2002. He started working on totem poles with Haida artist Clarence Mills, and at the same time was introduced to Jewellery carving. Landon has worked on masks with Tsimshian artist Phil Gray and Haida artist Jay Simeon,[…]
Read More »Victoria Harper was in born in Vancouver in 1979. Her artist career began in the 1990’s when she helped her father, Charles Harper, carve three large totem poles for his nation. They now stand at the Stoney Creek reserve. In 1999 she took a stone setting course and then began[…]
Read More »Ross is a Kwakwaka’wakw artist who was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia. His ancestors are from the Henderson family from Campbell River, British Columbia and the Whonnock family from Fort Rupert, British Columbia. Ross and his brother Jonathon Henderson began carving at a young age, watching and learning from[…]
Read More »Stan Hunt III was born in Alert Bay, a rich cultural centre for the Kwakwaka’wakw people. For many years, the people of Alert Bay resisted attempts to ban the potlatch and either went to jail or continued the practice in an underground manner rather than give up their potlatch regalia[…]
Read More »Noel Brown was born in Nanaimo, BC in March 1970. Noel began carving in 1994. He received training and inspiration from James Lewis, a prominent Northwest Coast artist. He has also worked and learned from other talented individuals such as Richard Baker, James Baker and Darin Lewis. Noel worked with[…]
Read More »Chris Cook was born into the Namgis tribe of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation in Alert Bay, British Columbia in 1971. Chris was given the name "Xusamdas" during his father’s first potlatch in 1975 when he was initiated into the Hamatsa Secret Society. Chris remained in Alert Bay until he was 18[…]
Read More »Rande Cook was born May 1977 in culture-rich Alert Bay, a small village on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Surrounded by the beauty of land and art, Rande found the passion of creativity at an early age. Rande now resides in Victoria where he continues to push himself in[…]
Read More »Sammy Dawson, born in Alert Bay, BC in 1976, belongs to the Kwakwaka’wakw People. His mother is from the Tsawatainuk First Nation and his father is from the island village First Nation of Mamalilikulla. While growing up in Alert Bay, Sammy had early on started to watch the local carvers[…]
Read More »Yul Baker was born in North Vancouver, BC in September 1973 and is of mixed native descent. Yul is an avid athlete and he won a World Championship in lacrosse with the Rochester Nighthawks in 1997. He has been working as an artist since 2003 and has trained with established[…]
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