Join world-renowned Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation master carver Xwalacktun for an illustrated talk on Coast Salish art, story, and cultural practice. Reflecting on residencies from South Africa to Scotland, he will share how his work remains grounded in Coast Salish teachings while connecting with communities around the world.

Xwalacktun (Rick Harry) is one of Canada’s most well known Skwxwú7mesh and Kwakwaka’wakw sculptors and carvers. His wood carvings can be found throughout the province, telling stories of healing and growth. Fittingly, this led to him being the first Indigenous artist to be granted a license to create art related to an Olympic Games, when the event came to Vancouver in 2010.

Xwalacktun was born and raised in Squamish. His mother is originally from Squamish and Alert Bay (Coast Salish, Kwakiutl) and his father was Coast Salish (Squamish). Xwalacktun was given his Indigenous name by his father, Pekultn, who was a hereditary chief, originally from the Seymour Creek area in North Vancouver. Xwalacktun gained his skills and education from Emily Carr University of Art + Design and Capilano College but also feels he learned a lot through trial and error.

In 2012, Xwalacktun received the prestigious honour of the Order of British Columbia for his many artistic contributions to communities locally and worldwide, and in 2013, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2022 he was the recipient of an Emily Carr University Honorary Degree, and won the Polygon Award in First Nations Art in the Award of Distinction for Lifetime Achievement category in 2023. More recently, he completed an artist residency in South Africa in summer 2024.