Award Year: 2010

Haida artist Alvin Adkins has been creating distinctive, bold and unique works for more than 30 years. Celebrated for his high quality gold and silver jewellery, he is also a talented argillite and wood carver and creates sikscreen prints that underscore his attention to detail and imaginative approach to design. His work is in demand by collectors and he contributes many works to his community to raise funds and awareness for First Nations art and culture.

Tim Paul employs traditional Nuu-chah-nulth techniques to create modern totem poles, canoes and abstract contemporary works. He began carving in 1975 at the Arts of the Raven Gallery in Victoria, under the direction of Ben Andrews. For eight years he was Senior Carver at the Royal BC Museum and later headed up a native education program on Vancouver Island. Tim’s work reflects a deep respect for the culture and history of the Nuu-chah-nulth people and a celebration of the fact that it is still being practiced. His art can be found in national museums, galleries and private collections around the world, including Vancouver International Airport.

From the time he was a boy, Richard Sumner always knew he was going to be a carver. It was all around him in Alert Bay, as were the Kwakwaka’wak traditions of fishing and hunting. He’s best known for his achievements in the demanding craft of carved and painted bentwood boxes, using his skills and creativity to incorporate modern designs into an ancient form. His extensive body of work includes ceremonial masks, rattles and poles but his preference has always been for functional objects, like bowls, boxes and spoons. Richard’s bentwood boxes can be found in collections around the world and here at home at the Museum of Anthropology and the Royal British Columbia Museum.

Peter Morin uses his training in painting, printmaking and drawing to tell visual stories of his Tahltan culture. A graduate of Emily Carr School of Art + Design, he explores issues of First Nations identity, family and healing. His current work includes lithographs produced from his own stone carvings. Peter is also a community educator, who draws on art to help first nations youth reconnect with their culture and traditional practices.

Lisa Hageman’s dream is to see the ancient art of Haida weaving recognized as the high art it is. She’s demonstrated her passion with thousands of hours practicing the oldest form of textile weaving on the Northwest Coast, Raven’s Tail. In 2009, Hageman created the Hageman-7idansuu Robe, the first entirely z-twist warp, weft and weave Haida robe in more than a century. Designated a Master in Weaving by her mentor and teacher, Evelyn Vanderhoop, Lisa has woven publicly in galleries, museums and showcases in B.C., France and Ireland and has received commissions from museums, private collectors and the Haida community.