Artists

The economic, cultural and spiritual importance of Salmon to the Northwest Coast is reflected in the iconic manner and recognizable image of these fish. In pre-contact society, the abundance of this
source of sustenance to the First Peoples was divine gift from the Creator, harvested and used with great respect for its origin. The image of spawning salmon, fighting through great cataracts and rapids,
providing themselves to the bears, eagles, wolves and later in their death after a successful spawn, providing nutrients to the roots of the great giant fir, spruce and cedar of the coastal rain forest, is a powerful one.
The settler culture soon found great wealth in the abundance of fish and plentiful timber.
Communities sprung up, up and down the coast, to capitalize on these resources. In fact, the modern economy of the Northwest Coast is built on fish and timber.
It is the spiritual aspect of the Salmon that gives me inspiration. Each individual fish, one of millions, has that aura of immortality, of a life given with a purpose, sustaining and enriching the other lives it contacts. Truly a gift from God.

I make the Glass Salmon, not to reproduce the fish but to create a likeness in glass that is 'glass with Salmon appearing'. Each Glass Salmon is an individual, one of a kind. I do seriously try to make each fish a recognizable species and sex, with appropriate colouration. But I make them as glassy as possible and give each individual a personality and spirit.

Ernie Smith was born in 1966 to the late
Francis Smith of Ehattesaht (Nuu-chah-nulth) and Virginia Smith of We Wai Kai
(Kwakwaka'wakw). Ernie was given a
traditional name from both sides of the family: he carries the name Mowisaht as well as Gwa-gwa- da-kan.
His first mentor was Dorie Brochie (his mother's cousin), who taught him
how to carve. Next, he met late Russell Kwakseestahla who taught Ernie
how to carve and make knives. Ernie also had the opportunity to observe and become influenced by the work of late Art Nicolaye and Ernie's relatives Ron Hamilton and Tim Paul.
In 2015 he took the Metal Jewellery Design Course at North island College and earned himself a place on the Dean's List. The program provided him the opportunity to learn from Leanne Helin (Tsimshian). In
2017 he returned to the College as an Instructor for the program. Today,
Ernie is a full time Jewelry Artist who designs unique pieces creating
rings, bracelets, pendants and earrings often fusing silver and gold with
stones in unusual settings. All of his designs are engraved with Original
Native Artwork.

Born in 1945 is Sardis, B. C. and is of the Coast Salish cultural group. He moved to Alert Bay B.C. after he graduated. Gilbert studied under Lloyd Wadhams Sr: and now lives and works is Victoria.

Gilbert's style, fine detail and craftsmanship has made his work highly sought after . Gilbert married a Kwakiutl woman from Alert Bay and has two sons, Jeff and Jason who he has also taught the art of

carving jewelry.

Greg Henderson, traditionally known as Gweyem is from the Wei Wai Kum

First Nation of the K wakwaka" 'wakw people. At a very young age Greg

watched and learned from his father Ernie Henderson, and then began carving in red and yellow cedar. Greg is the grandson of the late Sam Henderson and the late May Henderson (granddaughter of the late Chief

of Cape teachings first Mudge) came nations from Greg his artists. has uncles worked Greg Bill at assisted and carving Mark, Bill since in both he of carving eight whom the and.Billy Assu.many of his

are world renowned totem poles for the Wei Wai Kum Big House. Greg enjoys carving and hopes that the legends of his people are interpreted through his masks and

paintings.

Joe was born in Kitchener, Ontario in 1964 but grew up in

the little town of Lively Ontario. Joe's family is a mixture of Ojibwe (Blind River First Nation) French, Irish and Spanish decent

Joe moved to the West coast in the early 1980's and it wasn't until he met his long time partner, Cheryl Wadhams that he became intrigued about the art of the

north west coast people. In 1993 he started out carving wood pieces under Don Dawson, Charles Harper and Raymond Wadhams. Where he learned the basics of the

west coast designs and forms.

After a year working with wood, Joe was offered to work under the guidance of Lloyd Wadhams Jr. with Silver and

gold jewelry. He worked under Lloyd perfecting the more technical side of jewelry making.

Joe would then be adopted into the KwaKwaka'wakw nation where he continues to expand his artistic talents.

Ray Bob is from the house of 

Niin' si ya (Wilson Bob Jr). 

Born in Naniamo, BC in 1960 of Nuu Chah Nulth and Coast Salish ancestry. Rays grandfather Wallace Touchie was a Nuu Chah Nulth carver and canoe builder, father Wilson Bob Jr, and was a carver and artist, who received teaching from late George Clutesi. Much of Rays work is done by using Red cedar and Yellow cedar panels using the natural colour of the wood and grain. Although Ray does work on canvas's, he loves the feel of cedar. Ray is largely self taught, many of his art pieces are based on legends of the Pacific North west coast and he has been painting since 1986.

The late Richard E. Baker (Feb 12, 1962) was a member of the

Squamish Nation in North Vancouver, BC, Capilano Indian Reserve.

Richard was an international known artist for his Northwest Coast Art, and he was also an entrepreneur in the construction and the timber industries. Richard's entire

lineage has been native artists, recorded from his maternal grandmother, Katherine Scow, who was of the KwaKawk'kwa Peoples in the Northwest Pacific Coast

Region.

Richie started carving out of curiosity rather than a career. At the young age of 12 he watched his father and other carvers creating beautiful totem poles and masks

out of cedar wood, he then picked up a carving knife and started to create his own pieces of work. His curiosity

turned into his passion, a passion of learning and creating, which has led to a regular clientele base and an interest in his work from admirers around the world.

Richie was often invited to participate in crafts fairs locally, regionally and nationally. At Expo 86 in Vancouver, he met many collectors, Gallery owners and museum directors. He was invited to carve in Montreal and Toronto at several settings.

After many years of mastering the carving techniques on wood, Richie decided to take on metal. Learning the intricate details of engraving precious metals such as

gold, platinum, silver and copper brought him another passion of creating North West designs that admirers near and far all appreciate.

In 1996, Richie established his own studio at Capilano Reserve in North Vancouver completing custom orders for weddings, anniversaries, and other

personal and business gifts. He has been commissioned by a number of Corporations and First Nations organizations throughout Canada for jewelery as well as cedar woodcarvings.
Richie was also passionate in teaching the craft. He enjoyed teaching young generation artists the skills of carving wood and metal.
Richie had a personal style and flair all of his own which brought out the best in him when he created something on a traditional level that complemented his business
ventures.
Richie comes from a rich and live cultural heritage, of both hi Kwakwakawk and Squamish.
Richie was a community-based person, who took it upon himself to help out other artists by supporting their work and their aspirations. 

Rod is an aboriginal artist with roots in

Campbell River, BC and Oweekeno (Rivers

Inlet) BC. He signs all is work Galuyagmi

Which means "Great First Birth".

He began is artistic career about 19 years

ago, after leaving the automotive industry.

Wood is the medium of choice for Rod and

He has created many beautiful pieces using

Yellow and Red Cedar, Alder, Basswood and

Canadian Maple. Rod received his training

in the traditional manner, learning from his

father Harris Smith (Lalkawilas), one of

his main influences. He is also inspired by

the work of the Hunt family, Robert

Davidson, and all the old masters who came

before.

Rod strives to produce the highest quality

product both in carving and painting. Every

piece has it's own uniqueness & personality.

He hope you enjoy it as much as he has

enjoyed creating it.

His work is collected locally, as well as around the globe.

In 2005, he was featured in "Changing Hands" Art Without Reservations 2 Exhibition that opened at

the Museum of Arts and Design in New

York. Rod now lives in Courtenay BC. 

My name is Bertha Paull, Witchita, Thundering on Woman, Xiixiiadaks.
I am Tseshaht from the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation. I am the Teacher/Mentor of this application.
I have been offering classes in Nuu-chah-nulth basketry since 2014, thanks to a grant obtained from the FPCC. Mainly in
Victoria but in the past few years in Port AIberni, BC and one class in Ehatis, Zeballos in 2016.
My classes have been approximately 60 hours long. That is the approximate time it takes for a beginner to complete a
basket. I also teach the students how to harvest the materials, the traditional names of the materials, as well as how to
process each blade of grass. Along with the above teachings, I show students how to make the one tool needed to make
the outer grass uniform; a sitayuuk which is like a small grass splitting tool made from yellow cedar wood I buy and two
razor blades.
I started weaving in 1973 after I found a basket on the side of the road. That week, by chance, the renowned weaver
Mable Taylor was teaching a class at the Friendship Center in Port Alberni. When I showed my mother, Martha Fred, what
I was doing I was surprised she knew how. From then on, we started harvesting together. My mother was an expert
weaver, as was my maternal grandmother, Sara Touchie. My mother wove and taught me her knowledge, protocols, designs, and weaving techniques all the way through to her passing in 2002.
I am a firm believer the need for the earning of this basketry is dire because at this point there is very few practicing basket makers on the West Coast. Basket weaving is a time-consuming undertaking, and I am the only basket weaver in the Tseshaht. We were a whaling Nation and our Tseshaht name means: stinking of rotting whale, because we were rich in our harvesting of whale. Our whaler's used this basket to carry our sunscreen/windscreen when they went whaling.
The appreciation of basketry has been inspiring more people to want to learn the art. This has been great to see.

Val Lancaster was born on January 25, 1967 in Matsqui,

British Columbia, Canada. She moved to Alert Bay in 1984 where she is a member of the Namigis First Nation and lived there until 1998. Val lived on Mayne Island

where she began carving silver and gold jewelry in January 1999. She now resides in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, Canada.

Val was trained in the art of carving by her brothers, John and Don Lancaster, of Victoria who have been carving for

decades. Val currently works from her home on Vancouver Island implementing both traditional and original concepts into her Native art. al works in silver, gold and copper.

 William Henderson was born in Campbell River in 1979 and belongs to the Campbell River Indian Band.

William come's from a very artistic family, his grandfather the late Sam Henderson, who was a master carver, his father Bill Henderson who is a master carver, his uncle Danny Henderson who is a blanket

maker & story teller, his uncle Mark Henderson who is an artist and cousin Junior Henderson who is a carver.

William has been carving and learning the traditional way's for 5 years from his father Bill and cousin Junior. William is also involved in a culture group, which is teaching the kids how to sing and dance.

William is also part of a very sacred society which is called the Hamatsa Society. It is one of the most powerful dance's amongst the Kwakwaka'wakw people. His mentors are his grandpa, his dad, his uncles and cousın. and also Wilie Seaweed. William enjoys spending his time carving at the shed with his father, uncle and cousin. And strive's one day to be just as good as they are.

William Cook was born on June 23'd 1974, in Alert Bay B.C, he was raised by his parents W illie & Karen Cook. He has a strong belief in his culture, which he had learned from his grandparents; Gus and
Florrie Matilpi. As dancer in the Big House, he owns the "Hamasta" dance.
Taught at a young age how to draw, from Fran Dick, he moved moved to carving jewellery at the age of 18, taught by Henry "KODI" Nelson and Patrick Seaweed. Still today he is learning different styles of jewellery from his brother Rande Cook.
William moved to Victoria, where he still resides with his own family now.