Tricia Thomas, owner and creative director of Salish Eye Productions, wears many hats – designer, project manager, marketing manager, photographer, video editor. Salish Eye Productions, a multimedia company, offers services primarily to First Nations. Its mission is to help create beautiful and meaningful digital content. Set up as a mobile company in 2014, its expansion plans in the past year have led it to acquire land and buildings on reserve for a studio and office.
Tricia serves as a role model to young Indigenous entrepreneurs. Her desire is to tell stories the way they are supposed to be told instead of by someone from the outside looking in.
Corey Bulpitt is an artist from the Haida Na7ikun-Raven Clan and holds the name T’aak’eit G’aayaa, meaning “gifted carver.” The great-great-grandson of renowned artists Charles Edenshaaw and Louis Collison, he apprenticed under master carver Christian White and has worked with Dempsey Bob, Joe David, Jim Hart and Beau Dick, among others. Corey is known internationally for his fusion of hip hop culture and Haida traditional style in large-scale spray painted pieces, creating work for the National Gallery of Canada, Facebook Head Office in Seattle, and the Vancouver Mural Festival. Working with mediums as diverse as wood, argillite, gold, silver, glass, textiles, spray paint, and traditional Kiida (hand-poke) tattooing, Corey has steeped himself in the traditional work of his ancestors, forming a foundation for his distinctive contemporary style.
Veridis Plumbing & Heating owned and operated by Corry Belcourt is a full service plumbing, heating and gas company serving the Cowichan Valley. Services offered by Veridis Plumbing & Heating include installation, repairs and maintenance for plumbing, heating and gas mechanical systems. They aim to be known as “Reliable-Honest-Efficient” exactly as advertised.
In a very competitive market, the business continues to grow. Multinational manufacturers and suppliers rely on Verdis to support their customers directly. Veridis employees are proud corporate citizens and contribute to South Cowichan Community Policing, the BCSPCA, HeroWork, and the Rotary Club of Duncan.
Danika Saunders (formerly Naccarella) is the inaugural recipient of the Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist Award. A hardworking, talented young artist of Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw and Nuxalk descent, Danika melds her understanding of classic northern Northwest Coast design with Nuxalk style, while remaining respectful to historical rules and traditions. Her graduation from Acwsalcta School in Bella Coola saw her head to Terrace to begin a two-year diploma at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art where she distinguished herself as a methodical, thoughtful, and confident artist. She has been the recipient of the YVR Art Foundation Award, a BC Arts Council Scholarship and the President’s Award at Northwest Community College. More recently, Danika accepted a residency with Earthline Tattoo Training in Kelowna to immerse herself in traditional hand-poke tattooing and skin-stitch techniques. She has returned to Bella Coola to continue learning and to mentor younger Indigenous artists as an art teacher at Acwsalcta School.
The Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist designation was established in 2016. Named in honour of Brenda Crabtree, Director, Aboriginal Programs, Emily Carr University and the late Bill McLennan (1948-2020), Curator Emeritus, UBC Museum of Anthropology, this recognition aims to highlight and support emerging talent.
