I am a xwməθkwəy̓əm born and raised Coast Salish artist whose ancestry is from Musqueam/Squamish Nations. I am part of the movement to revive and celebrate Coast Salish art styles in Coast Salish lands, currently passing his knowledge on to my daughters and grand-daughter. I am most recognized for his work reviving Coast Salish traditional and contemporary canoe and paddle styles, and am well-known for his unique Coast Salish Goat horn design jewelry. I’ve been carving for the past 11 years, I jumped right into doing bentwood boxes, learning as I go with steaming, as I am a red seal carpenter I’m familiar with Mill working. So with my carpenter skills I am able to mill my own wood to create 5′ x 3′ panels and circular ones too by laminating 3′ x 6′ red or yellow cedar together. I was first introduced to carving at 7 yrs old by the old traditional carvers of my Musqueam community, which was Northern style plaques and 10′ mini totem poles. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that I had taken a carving tool course where we made our own blades with handles and with those I had
made a bowl and mask.
