Gwaai Edenshaw

Spring 21″ x 14″

Born in Prince Rupert, Gwaai Edenshaw grew up on Haida Gwaii. He is the eldest son of Guujaaw, former president of the Council for the Haida Nation, and with whom he has worked on four totem poles, one of which can be seen standing in front of the Haida Gwaii Museum in Skidegate on Haida Gwaii.

Edenshaw was born into the ts’aalth or Sea Lion clan and also holds the name hloogii’tga, which means “Heron.” In addition to working with his father, Edenshaw lived and trained with Bill Reid in Vancouver for a year when he was a young man, then went on to complete the Jewellery Art and Design program at Vancouver Community College. He works in all sorts of media scale, making masks and miniatures in wood, drawing and painting on 2D surfaces, as well as carving small pieces in jade, bone and jasper. He is best known for his beautiful jewelry which often utilizes 22kt gold and abalone inlay.