Calvin Hunt

Popup SLIDESHOW [Flash, new window: 112 kb]
ON THE WEB | www.calvinhunt.com

Chief Tlasutiwalis, Kwagu'l, Fort Rupert

Hereditary Chief Na-soom-yees, Mowochaht, Friendly Cove

Born in 1956 into a wealth of traditional values, Calvin started woodcarving Northwest Coast Indian art at the age of 12. From 1972 to 1981, Calvin carved full time as an apprentice with Tony Hunt, Sr. (1) Moving to his ancestral home of Fort Rupert in 1981, Calvin and his wife, Marie, opened their carving workshop "The Copper Maker."  In 1989, the workshop doubled in size and the retail art gallery "Kwakiutl Art of the Copper Maker Gallery" opened. The prophesy of the gallery's name has come true as he now has three full time artists at the workshop (2).

In May 1988, he carved and raised the Hunt Pole in Fort Rupert (3).  With the assistance of his brothers, nephews and cousins, he also carved a memorial grave figure for his father at the Fort Rupert cemetery. These poles were the first such poles raised in the village in approximately seventy years.

With the resurgence of canoe building in 1993, Calvin and his nephew, Mervyn Child, carved a 32' Northern Style canoe that represented the Kwakiutl Nation at "Quatuwas" canoe gathering in Bella Bella. This canoe was named "Maxwalaogwa" after his mother, belongs to the Maxwalaogwa Canoe Society that was formed by Calvin and his wife, Marie.  Calvin, with Mervy’s assistance, has also carved the 32' Northern Style "I-Hos", and 40' Northern Style "Ugwamalis Gixdan.”  He has helped with the carving of a Munka canoe, and a 37' West Coast Style canoe from Quatsino. Calvin and Mervyn Child are currently carving a Head Canoe.

In 1995, during a potlatch given by Calvin and his brother, Ross Hunt Sr., Calvin received his Chief's name, Tlasutiwalis, from his wife's side of the family. In July of 1998 he was seated as the fourth primary Chief of the Mowachaht; the Hereditary Chieftainship, which belonged to his grandfather, Dr. Billy, of Tsuwana (Friendly Cove), his Chief s name being "Nas soom yees".

Calvin continues his work in Northwest Coast Indian Art work, working in wood, including canoe building; original silk-screened prints, gold and silver jewelry, and stone carving.

More information can be found at www.calvinhunt.com. 

1 Calvin carved with Tony Hunt Sr. at The Arts of the Raven Gallery, Victoria, BC.

2 The Copper is a symbol of wealth.

3 The pole is hereditarily owned by his oldest brother, George Hunt Sr.