Bios

The Kwagiutl are known for their dramatic masks and extravagant totem poles.  Their regions covers the northeastern coastal tip of Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coastline somewhat north of Vancouver past but not including Bella Coola.

Kwak-Waka'wakw (Kwagiutl) carvings tend to have a strong, bold look with deep cut areas.   The supernatural bird masks such as the Thunderbird and the Kolus are Kwagiutl creations.  Many Kwagiutl artist were born and raised in Alert Bay, BC, Canada.

Alfred was born and raised in Alert Bay, BC which is on the westcoast of Vancouver Island.   His mother's family is from Village Island and his father's family is from Turnour Island.  The family crest is the Kolus or Baby Thunderbird.

Alfred is the oldest remaining son.  His brother's Norman and Paddy are also well renowned carvers.

Alfred Seaweed was always interested in drawing, he moved into wood carvings before he started carving silver and gold jewelry in 1978 with Lloyd Wadhams. 

 Alfred Seaweed's designs are unique and exquisite one of a kind pieces.  His attention to detail is evident in all his designs   

Visit our BC Native Jewelry section to view and purchase many pieces of his stunning jewelry.  Be sure to come back often as we have new designs arriving regularly.

Norman Seaweed was born and raised in Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada.   His mother's family is from the Village Island and his father's family is from Turnour Island.   The family Kwakiutl crest is the Kulus, a supernatural bird in the likeness of a baby Thunderbird.  The Kulus was covered in down and became overheated by it.  As the Kulus started to shed the down it turned into the form of a human and was given incredible strength.  Strong enough to lift the main beams poles for houses into place.

Norman was trained by a well known BC carver, Lloyd Wadhams.  He was always interested in drawing, then moved into wood carving and from there, into silver and gold. Norman is the middle remaining son.  His brothers Alfred and Paddy are also well renowned jewelry carvers. 

Silver FX carries many of Norman Seaweed's designs.  His is an excellent carver and his designs are beautiful and timeless pieces of art.  Each piece we carry is signed by the artist.   See our BC Native Jewelry section to view and purchase some of his wonderful designs.

Be sure come back often as we have new designs arriving regularly.

Paddy Seaweed was born and raised in Alert Bay, British Columbia on the westcoast of Vancouver Island. His mother's family is from the Village Island and his father's family is from Turnour Island.  He is the youngest son in the family.  The family Kwakiutl crest is the Kolus, which is a Baby Thunderbird covered in down. The Kolus is a supernatural bird.  Legend is that the Kolus became overheated by the down and shed it's down revealing a human image being given great strength. 

Paddy was trained in jewelry carving by Lloyd Wadhams.  

He was always interested in drawing, then moved into wood carving and from there, into silver and gold. Paddy's older brothers, Alfred and Norman Seaweed are also well known carvers from the westcoast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada.

Paddy Seaweed is an excellent well renowned carver.  He designs stunning and unique jewelry with clean crisp lines.  Each piece is signed by the artist making each piece a timeless piece of wearable art. 

Many of Paddy's designs can be viewed and purchased online or see our calendar under "Shows"  to visit us personally to see the many other pieces of unique work that we do not get onto the website.  

Tribal Affiliation: Kwakwaka'wakw
Birthplace: Alert Bay, BC
Birthdate: Unknown
Don Lancaster, a member of the Namgis First Nations, began carving at the age of 16.

He watched his uncle Norman Seaweed carve a few times, then began carving on his own. He started out with copper, and then quickly moved on to silver and gold. He is traditional in his artwork, it is all hand carved and polished.

No machines are used in the carving process. Don is always trying new designs and coming up with new ideas, always keeping with the traditional methods.

The Coast Salish inhabited the coast of the mainland from Bute Inlet in British Columbia to the Columbia River, dividing Washington and Oregon and those areas on Vancouver Island not occupied by the Kwak-Waka'wakw (Kwaguitl) and the Nuu-Chah-Nulth ("Nootka"), from Johnstone Straight to Port San Juan. They also occupied vast areas of western Washington state.
Coast Salish artists were imaginative artists with ancient traditions in carving.

Graham Henry was born August 14, 1970 in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada.  He is a member of the Cowichan Band of the Coast Salish Nation.

The Coast Salish Nation inhabits the southern region of British Columbia.

Graham takes the Eagle, a prestigious and high status symbol, as his family crest.  He has an intricate carving style and is constantly

making new and unique designs.   He works in silver and gold.

Graham's brother, Travis Henry, was his main teacher.  He also worked with Patrick Seaweed a well renowned carver from

Alert Bay, BC.    His favorite design is the Hummingbird. 

We also carry many beautiful handcarved rings by Graham Henry but do not have them at our online store.  Please

contact us directly or visit us at our shows for selection. 

Nation - Salish
Travis Henry is a well known Northwest Coast jewellery carver. Travis is one of many Northwest Coast Native artists preserving the traditions of his ancestors.

Harold is born into the Namgis First Nation of Alert Bay, a member of the Kwakawaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) peoples.

Growing up he was surrounded by outstanding artists and carvers and his work reflects their profound influence.

His designs are deeply rooted in tradition but he is always striving to express his own particular style and sets

himself the highest standards possible which is clearly evident in his work. 

His logo is the Thunderbird which symbolize his roots as a Namgis Artist.  He has taken courses with renowned Westcoast

artist Tony Hunt of the Kwagulth people.  Working in silver and gold he creates many stunning one of a kind pieces. 

Harold also designs incredible and unique stained glass creations and many wood sculpting pieces and totem poles.