Pat, Gilbert

Gilbert Pat was born in Sardis, British Columbia, Canada in 1945 to parents George and Martha of the Sto’lo Nation. In 1953 he was sent to a Roman Catholic school in Mission, BC. He remained there until deciding to move to Vancouver in 1964. Once there he attended trade school for a year in carpentry. During that time he also worked in a cabinet shop.

In 1966 Gilbert moved to Alert Bay, BC where he used his skills obtained from trade school and built houses. While there he also fished on a seine boat for salmon, and continued doing so until 1978.

In 1976 Gilbert began to silversmithing and Jewellery design under the tutelage of Lloyd Wadhams Sr. Gilbert now lives and works in Victoria.

Gilbert’s style, fine detail and craftsmanship have made his work highly sought after. Gilbert married a Kwakiutl woman from Alert Bay and has two sons (who he has also taught the art of carving Jewellery) and a daughter Norine.