“I am a Tla-o-qui-aht woman and I was born out in the wilds of the west coast, on an island, on the beach, in a spot where our whaling chiefs used to bring the whales in. Northern lights stretched out into the north the night before I came into this world. I believe in a deeply profound relationship with the land that I come from and a responsibility to it’s survival, health, and freedom.

My mother, Paula Swan, is a photographer and painter. Her main inspiration is the beauty she finds in nature especially arbutus trees, flowers, moonscapes and seashells. My father, Joe David, is a master carver and painter who is heavily influenced by our rich culture and his spiritual practice. I am very thankful that they both nurtured the artist in me from a very young age.

My art is my way of expressing my love, respect and dreams for my people, the land and what I hold spiritually precious. As I slowly carve away at a print or a rattle or a mask, I am holding that intention in my heart. It is my meditation and my prayer. I do not always know what I am making when I start but I always find the right home for it when it is done. I have found great fulfillment in finding new ways to weave my creative force back in to the fabric of my community. My main creative outlet is woodblock printing but I also enjoy beading, writing, painting, storytelling and carving.”