My Langara Reconciliation Carving Journey: Special Guest

So last Friday's class was really exciting because we had guests. Remember I told you I was waiting to get permission to use some photos and info.
https://mylangaratrccarvingjourney.blogspot.ca/2017/01/guests-wisdom-design-and-carving.html

http://www.xwalacktun.ca

Our Special Guest was:
Xwalacktun
http://www.xwalacktun.ca/

Have a look at some of the AMAZING work that he creates. http://www.xwalacktun.ca/wood/

We were in for a very special treat! It was great. He was so honest and open and he had us laughing so hard we cried and inside I was crying about some of the things he said. He had it very hard in public school but it obviously is being expressed through his art now.

Here is some info from his bio

"Xwalacktun was born and raised in Squamish. He carries with him the rich ancestries of his father’s (Squamish Nation) and mother’s (Kwakwakw'wakw Nation) of the Coast Salish clans. His father, Pekultn, carried a hereditary chieftainship from Seymour Creek in North Vancouver. He would like to acknowledge Capilano College and Emily Carr College of Art for teaching him the skills to have a start in his career. His endurance and commitment through trial and error helped propel him forward as an artist."

"Healing, growth and raising an awareness of the environment are central themes in Xwalacktun’s work. By focusing on how the traditional stories relate to his own life, he suggests to us how to use this ancient knowledge to help heal ourselves and our community. The giving out of positive energy and seeing it come back through the young people is the reward that continues to feed his spirit so that he can give back to others"

Here's his bio. http://www.xwalacktun.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/xwalcktunLongBio.pdf

Here's a few photos from class.