he Kwaguilth people traditionally inhabit the Northeastern coast of Vancouver Island and are part of the Kwakiutl region, which includes parts of Vancouver Island and the central coast of the province of British Columbia on the west coast of Canada.

In pre-contact days the Kwakiutl people numbered about 50,000, enjoying a sophisticated, spiritual culture that revolved around our relationship with the sea. The Kwaguilth people have traditionally inhabited an area of coastline that is poor for agriculture but rich in animal and sea life.

Sun Mask

The artwork you see on this site originated in a tradition where it was not just decorative, but usually had ceremonial importance as well. The use of particular designs and masks, in addition to ceremonial dances, could be earned or passed on through family, what we refer to as ownership. Many of the designs featured in my artwork are owned in this way by my family. Additionally, I have family roots with the Tlingit nation on the southern panhandle of Alaska.

For further reading about the Kwaguilth and Kwakiutl peoples, I recommend:

• The Legacy, Peter L. Macnair, British Columbia Provincial Museum, 1994, ISBN 0-295-96166
  
  
• Chiefly Feasts: The Enduring Kwakiutl Potlatch, Edited by Aldona Jonaitis, American Museum of Natural History, 1991. ISBN 0-295-97114-2