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Chief Tlasutiwalis, Kwagu'l, Fort Rupert
Hereditary Chief Na-soom-yees, Mowochaht,
Friendly Cove
Born 1956
Born into a wealth of traditional values, Calvin started
woodcarving Northwest Coast Indian art at the age of 12. From
1972 to 1981, Calvin carved full time as an apprentice with
Tony Hunt, Sr. (Arts of the Raven Gallery, Victoria, BC.).
Moving to his ancestral home of Fort Rupert in 1981, Calvin
and his wife, Marie, opened their carving workshop "The
Copper Maker". In 1989 the workshop doubled in size and
the retail art gallery "Kwakiutl Art of the Copper Maker
Gallery" opened. The prophesy of the gallery's name has
come true as he now has three full time artists at the workshop.
In May 1988, he carved and raised the Hunt Pole in Fort Rupert,
(which is hereditarily owned by his oldest brother, George
Hunt Sr), with the assistance of his brothers, nephews and
cousins, He also carved a memorial grave figure for his father
at the Fort Rupert cemetery. These poles were the first such
poles raised in the village in approximately 70 years.
With the resurgence of canoe building in 1993, Calvin and
his nephew, Mervyn Child, carved a 32' Northern Style canoe
that represented the Kwagu'l Nation at "Quatuwas"
canoe gathering in Bella Bella. This canoe, named after his
mother, "Maxwalaogwa", belongs to the Maxwalaogwa
Canoe Society, formed by Calvin his wife, Marie. Calvin has
also carved the 32' Northern Style "I-Hos", and
40' Northern Style "Ugwamalis Gixdan", with Mervyn's
assistance. He has helped with the carving of a Munka canoe,
and a 37' West Coast Style canoe from Quatsino. Calvin and
Mervyn Child are currently carving a Head Canoe.
In 1995, during a potlatch given by Calvin and his brother,
Ross Hunt Sr., he received his Chief's name, Tlasutiwalis,
from his wife's side of the family,. In July of 1998, he was
seated as the fourth primary Chief of the Mowachaht; the Hereditary
Chieftainship, which belonged to his grandfather, Dr. Billy,
of Tsuwana (Friendly Cove), his Chief s name being "Nas
soom yees".
Calvin continues his work in Northwest Coast Indian Art work,
working in wood, including canoe building; original silk-screened
prints, gold and silver jewelry, and stone carving.
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