Stanley Hunt, one of the elders of the Hunt family, is one of Canada’s most renowned Northwest Coast artists, who creates authentic Kwakiutl (Kwakwa_ka_'wakw) carvings. Made in the spirit of his ancestors, his totem poles, masks and graphic paintings remain faithful to his band’s longstanding artistic tradition.

Hunt was born in 1954 in Victoria, British Columbia, although he always considered Fort Rupert home. He was introduced to the art of craftsmanship by his father Henry, who stated, “The first thing you have to do is make your own tools.” Stanley’s works are crafted from local materials and carved solely with traditional tools – the adze, curved knife and straight knife. All of his masks are ready to be rigged and danced in the Kwakiutl Big House for ceremonies.

The son of carver Henry Hunt and grandson of Chief Mungo Martin, Stanley inherits a proud legacy of Kwakiutl artistic tradition. His father and grandfather both held the role of master carver at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria. Stanley’s craft manifests the spirit of Mungo Martin, who was a central figure in the preservation of Kwakiutl spiritual and cultural traditions in the first half of the twentieth century. His brothers, Tony and Richard Hunt, are also both recognized as leading Kwakiutl artists. Stanley creates his works in accordance with traditional customs and symbolism, ensuring that the Kwakiutl community retains ownership of family crests and heritage. Family crests, for instance, are only allowed to be carved by members of that designated lineage. Hunt has helped cultivate the next generation of Northwest Coast artists and is a proud father to his sons Jason and Trevor, who he states, “are such outstanding young men and great artists who stand by themselves.”

Hunt takes great pride in preserving tradition, and his authentic craftsmanship continues and contributes to the oral and visual corpus of the Kwakiutl ethos. Reflecting upon the potlatch ban of 1870, he declared, “Our family tradition has never been unbroken, even when the government made it illegal to do so.” His work manifests a West Coast psyche, one that is grounded in the spirit of community.

All quotes are from a 2022 interview with Stan Hunt.