A member of the coast Salish band, Chawathl, Gilbert Pat is an extremely gifted and self taught First Nation’s jeweller from British Columbia who has been carving beautiful works in gold, silver and copper for the past 30 years. Pat studied Kwakiutl design, guided by many designers of his wife’s...

Bill Henderson of the Wei Wai Kum Band of Campbell River is one of the most successful master carvers of his time,  and has established an international reputation with collectors of First Nation’s art.  He has been commissioned to carve several traditional totem poles to commemorate important...

Bourque is an artist who has always been interested in woodworking, first as a carpenter then doing joinery (furniture making).  He has pursued wood carving as an art form since 1994.  Bourque was born in Saskatchewan but has resided in Campbell River since 1974.  His Canadian ancestry reaches back...

Mark Henderson is a well known First Nations artist and member of the Campbell River Band.  He began painting traditional Kwakuitl designs at age 11 and received encouragement from his father, Sam Henderson, a famous Kwakiutl carver. Henderson says that both of his parents (his mother was the late May...

Jorge Lewis is a First Nations artist from the Snuneymuxw nation of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, who specializes in drum making.  Jorge is a descendent of powerful Shamans, mask dancers and chiefs.  He was taught the craft of drum making by Bill Garton, a Lakota sundancer, pipe carrier and spiritual...

Wayne Bell is a First Nations artist who creates woven objects that are both functional and attractive. He produces Cedar Baskets, Woven Cedar Headdresses, Woven Cedar Regalia (rope, capes and other costume items) and carves Cedar Masks.  Wayne’s tribal group is the Mamalilikulla of Village Island,...

The potlatch, a ceremonial distribution of property and gifts unique to Northwest Coast peoples, was elaborately developed by the Kwakwaka’wakw – people of the Canadian Pacific Northwest. Their potlatches were often combined with performances by dancing societies, each society having a series...