About the Artists

K'odi Nelson, Kwakwaka’wakw
from Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada

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Of the first 26 shows in the Oyate series, this one holds perhaps two distinguishing marks--one for “youngest artist” and the other for “most remote”. K’odi Nelson, in his early twenties, lives on Cormorant Island in a village called Alert Bay.

To reach the village, a person must ferry over to Vancouver Island, travel 300 miles or so, get on a ferryboat, and cross over to Cormorant. However, the countryside, every precious inch of it, is gorgeous.

K’odi teaches culture and music at the lovely elementary school on the island. We met him there and watched him play for the children. He was good with them and the children gave serious attention to performing every move precisely and accurately.

One small girl danced so beautifully we thought she surely must be hosting the spirit of a wise old woman. One of the teachers asked us if we had “noticed” her. The teacher said she has danced like that since she could walk. It was stunning.

Cormorant Island and the village of Alert Bay was originally a burial ground for the Nimkish people, a band of the Kwakwaka’wakw people. The Kwakwaka’wakw traditionally made their homes along the inlets and waterways, scattered into bands over a large area. There are over twenty villages that make up the traditional Kwakwaka’wakw nation.

Historically, the people made their living by fishing and hunting and by gathering clams, berries and seaweed from the lands around them. They lived in permanent villages in traditional longhouses, large log structures that housed several families.

The Kwakwaka’wakw people share many similarities with other Northwest tribal cultures. These include the construction of totem poles and elaborate animal masks and carvings painted in the traditional motifs of the people. There is a lovely museum on the island with many of the original artifacts that have been repatriated from museums and collections.