![CEDAR PADDLE: Tla’amin carver Craig Galligos is working on a red cedar paddle [above] to be presented as a prize at International Choral Kathaumixw 2023. In past years he carved large totem poles that were given as awards to the festival’s winners.](https://www.vmcdn.ca/f/files/powellriverpeak/images/people/2828_award_paddle.JPG;w=960;h=640;bgcolor=000000)
After a long hiatus, International Choral Kathaumixw is back in qathet this July and once again, talented Tla’amin Nation carver Craig Galligos is carving and creating a red cedar piece, to be given as an award at the festival.
In previous years Galligos carved six-foot poles for Kathaumixw; he specializes in red cedar totem poles up to 18 feet in length.
This year the carved award will be slightly different. Many choral festival participants will be coming from overseas, from places such as Venezuela and as far away as Uganda. Packing a giant pole onto a plane might be difficult, so this year Galligos is making a paddle that’s four feet, five inches long.
His journey as a carver started more than 20 years ago. While going to school in Vancouver, he met a well known artist from neighbouring shíshálh Nation, who was working in Gastown.
“I met a really good carver, his name was Curtis Joe,” said Galligos. “I would watch him at Hill’s [Native Art] in downtown Vancouver.”
After spending time with the resident carver (2002 to 2005), Galligos attempted to start his own piece.
“As I progressed he would tell me what to do and guide me; he would show me how to make it,” said Galligos. “I would look at other artists’ pieces, it was kind of a mix of trial and error.”
Galligos works in collaboration with Kathaumixw directors to decide what kind of figures will be included in the piece. This year a killer whale (orca) will be featured.
“We come up with something we both like,” explained Galligos.
He works out of his house, in a space on his outside deck that has a covering over it.
“Everyday I whittle away at it,” said Galligos. “I went out and sourced the wood myself; it was sitting there, waiting for a little project.”
Galligos is happy that First Nations presence has increased at the festival.
“I will be at the opening and closing ceremony,” he said. “It’s good for us to showcase BC and incorporate more and more First Nations culture to it. My auntie will give a speech in our language and there will be drumming.”
A future project in the works for Galligos is for a major ocean canoe journey in July. Tla’amin’s culture and heritage manager has asked Galligos to make five to 10 paddles for the trip to Washington State.
