I started carving at the age 7 and started selling my carvings by age 11. Both my parents and my older brother carved. Many of my family members were carvers on my mother’s side of the family. My grandfather was the late Jake Thomas who was Chief and a talented carver himself.

When I carve, I try to create art that represents my culture by carving clans or carving bowls that one to smudge with. I like to carve some of the clans of my people, so I do a lot of wolves, bears, and turtles. I also like to carve eagles. But I mainly enjoy carving because I have been doing it my whole life. You can never stop learning or improving your art or skill.