Peter Wayne Gong, Squamish Nation. Peter grew up in Ruskin BC on the Whonnick Reserve #1. Through his maternal side is a direct descendant of the people who lived on the Stave River. Although he grew up on the Whonnick Reserve he is a member of the Squamish Nation situated in North Vancouver BC.
As a child he spent many days along the Fraser River, netting salmon with his uncle. Once they would set the net and wait for the floats to go down (indicating there was a fish in the net) his uncle would tell him stories that were passed on to him and because of this he gained a strong interest in his culture.
He learned to carve in ivory and wood when he was a teenager from his uncle Jack Miranda and now mostly carves in wood. Peter carves from his studio in Mission BC.