Jonathan Joe, Lil’wat Nation. Jonathan was born and raised in Mount Currie, B.C. and has lived there all his life. Jonathan has been carving for approximately 25 years.
He was interested in carving at a very early age. As a child he was first inspired by a carving hanging on his wall in his family home. He realized his desire to learn more about the art form of carving while he was in elementary school. He started learning how to carve on wood from the First Nations art instructors Jeff Wallace of Lil’wat Nation, and Tyrone Joseph of Squamish Nation at the Xitólacw Community School. Jonathan developed his skills and his own style of carving throughout the years. He works with bark, driftwood and red and yellow cedar.
His inspiration comes through the natural beauty of the outdoors that surrounds him. He carves wall plaques, paddles and masks. Jonathan played a big part on the team for the 2010 Olympics and Squamish Líl’wat Culture Centre carving projects such as the river and lake canoes, and the spindle whorl that can be seen In the Great Hall of the Cultural Center.
“Being Líl’wat Nation and having spiritual beliefs, inspires my work today, I had a dream of carving a canoe long before I began to carve my first canoe.”