George Clutesi

Clutesi, George Charles

George Charles Clutesi, artist, author, folklorist (b at Port Alberni, BC 1905; d at Victoria 27 Feb 1988), a member of a family of Nootka chiefs of Sheshaht, Vancouver Island. His publications and public activities were among the first in the post-WWII period to gain recognition for native culture as interpreted by natives themselves. A fisherman and pile driver for 21 years, Clutesi broke his back in the 1940s. During his convalescence, he began to record, reproduce and teach the stories, songs, dances and art of his people. Emily CARR left him her artist's materials at her death. His books, though conventional in language, are rich in engaging human and technical detail. Clutesi painted one of the murals of the Indians of Canada pavilion at Expo 67. He was the author of Son of Raven, Son of Deer: Fables of the Tse-shaht People (1967) and Potlatch (1969).