Corrine Hunt (born 1959), also known as Nugwam Gelatleg'lees, is a
Kwakwaka'wakw/
Tlingit
The Tlingit ( or ; also spelled Tlinkit) are indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Their language is the Tlingit language (natively , pronounced ), artist, carver, jeweller and designer based in
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
, British Columbia, Canada.
Early life
Hunt is a member of the Raven Gwa'waina clan from Ts'akis, or
Alert Bay
Alert Bay is a village on Cormorant Island, near the town of Port McNeill on northeast Vancouver Island, in the Regional District of Mount Waddington, British Columbia, Canada.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statis ...
,
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
and was born in 1959.
Her grandmother, A'naeesla'ga, also known as Mary Ebbetts née Hunt (''Ansnaq, Anislaga, A'naeesla'ga and Anain'') (1823-1919), was a member of the Raven
clan of the Taantakwáan (
Tongass) tribe of the
Tlingit
The Tlingit ( or ; also spelled Tlinkit) are indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Their language is the Tlingit language (natively , pronounced ), nation of what is now southeastern
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
. Mary was the daughter of Chief Keishíshk' Shakes IV and S’eitlin, a Deisheetaan (Gaanax.ádi) woman from Aan goon (Angoon). It was from A'naeesla'ga that she inherited the name Nugwan Gelatleg'lees – "Killer Whale scratching her back on the beach" in 1965.
Her paternal grandfather, Jonathan Hunt, was a
Kwakwaka'wakw chief.
Hunt's family includes Kwakwaka'wakw artists
Henry Hunt,
Tony Hunt,
Richard Hunt and Stanley Hunt. She credits her uncle, jewellery engraver Norman Brotchie, as sparking her interest in creating art and was instrumental in introducing her to Kwakwaka'wakw art.
Having lived in the Vancouver area since 1975, Hunt attended
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a public research university in British Columbia, Canada, with three campuses, all in Greater Vancouver: Burnaby (main campus), Surrey, and Vancouver. The main Burnaby campus on Burnaby Mountain, located from ...
, majoring in Anthropology and Latin American studies.
Works
Hunt's works include engraved gold and silver jewellery and accessories, custom furnishings in carved stainless steel and reclaimed wood, modern totem poles and other sculptural installations, such as those at the Hilton Hotel Whistler, Port Coquitlam City Hall Foyer and the Office for
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
(INAC).
In 2009, Hunt co-created the medals for the
2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver with designer
Omer Arbel
Omer Arbel (born 1976) is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Vancouver. His output is broad, including materials research, lighting design, building design and site specific installations. He is one of two co-founders of Bocci, a Can ...
. She went on to design medals for
North American Outgames
The North America Outgames are a multi-sport event held every three years by the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association for LGBT athletes in North America. They are a regional derivation of the World Outgames, which is also held by GLISA, ...
2011 in Vancouver BC.
Hunt designed of the logo for the 2006 World Peace Forum held in Vancouver.
Her works have also included eyeglasses and fashion accessory designs for the Claudia Alan collection and Mukluks "Corrine Hunt collection for Manitobah," which consisted of the Gatherer mukluk in two styles: Bear and Hummingbird & Flower. Hunt also designed the jackets worn by the Canadian snowboarding team during the
2018 Olympic Games
, nations = 93
, athletes = 2,922 (1,680 men and 1,242 women)
, events = 102 in 7 sports (15 disciplines)
, opening =
, closing =
, opened_by = President Moon Jae-in
, cauldron = Kim Yun-a
, stadium = Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium
, winte ...
.
Her 2010 table ''Kwakw
ak
a'wakw'' is an example of
Northwest Coast design being used in contemporary mainstream culture and is exhibited at the
Canadian Museum of History
The Canadian Museum of History (french: Musée canadien de l’histoire) is a national museum on anthropology, Canadian history, cultural studies, and ethnology in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. The purpose of the museum is to promote the heritage of C ...
.
Exhibitions
* 1988 Zuni Gallery, Solo shows in Düsseldorf and Hamburg.
* 1989 Navajo Gallery, Portland, OR. Solo Show
* 1990 Navajo Gallery, Portland, OR. Solo Show
* 1991 Granville Native Art Group Show
* 1993 Echoes of Chiefly Feasts: Masterworks by Eleven members of the Hunt Family, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC
* 2005 Shine: Adornments of the Northwest Coast, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC
* 2011 "The Power of Giving: The Potlatch in the Kwakwaka'wakw Big House from the Canadian Northwest Coast", Dresden: Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau, Exhibition Designer.
* 2015/2016 Olaka Iku Da Nala "It's a Good Day". Coastal Peoples Gallery, Vancouver, BC. Solo Show.
Honours and awards
In 2011, Hunt was awarded the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (now
Indspire Awards
The Indspire Awards, until 2012 the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, are annual awards presented by Indspire in Canada. The awards are intended to celebrate and encourage excellence in the Aboriginal community.
About
The awards were fi ...
) for her outstanding career achievement and for serving as a role model to indigenous youth.
Books
* ''Olaka Iku Da Nala: It is a Good Day'' (2012)
References
Travis (1946) "Reminiscences of Fort Rupert, Kwakiutls Fort Rupert" The Beaver, Winnipeg, Dec 1946, page 651-657
External links
Die Macht des Schenkens - Eröffnung der Ausstellung in Dresden
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Corrine
1959 births
Living people
20th-century First Nations people
21st-century First Nations people
Canadian women artists
First Nations jewelers
Kwakwaka'wakw people
Simon Fraser University alumni
Tlingit people
20th-century Canadian women artists
Women jewellers
First Nations women artists