HUNT CALVIN

Calvin Hunt, born in 1956, 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. at the Arts of the Raven Gallery, Victoria, B.C. He moved to his ancestral home of Fort Rupert in 1981. In May 1988, Calvin carved and raised the Hunt Pole in Fort Rupert, 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 which represented the Kwagu’l Nation at “Quatuwas” canoe gathering in Bella Bella. 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 jewellery, as well as stone carving.