Hammering chisels with rubber mallets, children helped hollow out a traditional Nuu-chah-nulth log drum at the spring Carving on the Edge Festival, which took place May 1 to 4 at the Tofino Community Hall in Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations territory.
Tla-o-qui-aht artist Hjalmer Wenstob said the focus of the spring festival was all about coming together.
“Our log drum is what we built the whole festival around. It was drop-in carving throughout the whole festival. Really, it’s just basically about learning about different tools,” said Wenstob.
“It’s a nice, simple block of wood that people aren’t afraid of. We’re gonna hollow it out as a community,” he said.
Three different school groups participated in the log drum project: the Grade 2/3 class from Wickaninnish Community School, an art class from Ahousaht and a high school group from Oregon.
“When young people come and create, it’s beautiful. Having elders, the knowledge keepers in the room, to share with the next generations… it’s all about sharing knowledge and building something together,” he said.
Wenstob will take the log drum home and carve it into a wolf. He plans to gift the final work of art to Tla-o-qui-aht.
“I know they haven’t had a traditional log drum in a while. We’ve been hosting the festival for 15 years now in Tla-o-qui-aht, so we thought it would be a good way to give back,” Wenstob continued.
Beside the log drum, Port Alberni-based artist Kelly Robinson was working on a huge Thunderbird spirit mask in Nuxalk Nation’s distinct style.
“Nuxalk is bulbous, voluptuous, curvy and deep,” said Robinson, who has had Nuxalk work in market for over 15 years.
“I’ve been practicing Nuu-chah-nulth style seriously for the past five years, and it will take a lifetime to learn. Nuu-chah-nulth is really fine with shapes coming out of nowhere,” he said.
Robinson expressed his gratitude for the Carving Festival as it gives space for artists to network and just hang out with other artists.
“We’re alone the majority of the time. It’s been great to meet younger artists and share,” he told the Ha-Shilth-Sa.
Tla-o-qui-aht artist Ivy Cargill-Martin agreed.
“I loved the overall feel of all the artists coming together, talking together and inspiring each other. It was so laidback. The whole vibe was just artists coming together to do art,” she said.
When she wasn’t hosting a busy lino carving and print making station, Cargill-Martin worked on a wooden fish commission inspired by Nuu-chah-nulth style, although a little more “free”.
“My late uncle Darren Williams taught me to be more free and not as structured. He used to say to not draw with an eraser and just go with the mistakes you made,” Cargill-Martin shared.
During the May 2 afternoon program, Hesquiaht artist and world-renowned carver Tim Paul surprised non-Indigenous west coast community member Laurel White with a Nuu-chah-nulth name.
Surrounded by his family, Paul gave her the name ʔuuʔałuk, meaning ‘taking care of’.
“Take that name and use that name as you go on in life. Just make sure you take care to pass on to our young people,” said Paul.
White was raised in Prince Edward Island. She now lives in Ucluelet and works for the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council (NTC) as a public health researcher with a focus on what it means to live well and raise children well.
She was shocked and notably speechless after receiving her Nu-chah-nulth name.
“I was trying not to cry. It’s more than a word, it carries meaning,” White said.
“It’s such an honour, but also a gift of responsibility to the knowledge and learnings that have been shared with me over my years of working with the NTC health dept, such as the responsibility to take care of those teachings, share them and embed them into my work and my life,” she said.
Since 2021, White has been working with Paul and other Nuu-chah-nulth Elders on the Indigenous Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative.
“Elders like Tim amplify the work. I have so much gratitude and respect for Nuu-chah-nulth culture. It’s such a beautiful thing,” White said.
The Nuu-chah-nulth log drum will be displayed at the fall Carving on the Edge Art Show coming Oct 3 to 9, 2025.
