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Tlasutiwalis, Kwagu'l, Fort Rupert
Hereditary Chief Na-soom-yees, Mowochaht, Friendly Cove

Calvin Hunt

Born 1956, Calvin Hunt, is the youngest son of Kwagu'l Hereditary Chief Thomas Hunt, and Emma, the daughter of a great Mowochaht Chief and Shaman, Dr. Billy, and grandson of renowned carver Mungo Martin and grandmother, Abayah.

Born into a wealth of traditional values, Calvin started woodcarving 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 1995, during a potlatch given by Calvin and his brother, Ross Hunt Sr., he received his Chief's name, from his wife's side of the family, "Tlasutiwalis". 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 working in wood, including canoe building; silk-screened prints, gold and silver jewelry, as well as stone-carving.