Ernest began engraving in 2004 under Haida jeweller, Jim McGuire. In 2005, he started carving wood with Christian White and his cousin, Jim Hart. This same year, he also won an ‘Emerging Artist’ award from British Columbia’s Alliance of Arts and Culture. In 2009, Ernie graduated from Vancouver's Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts program under established Haida/Kwakwaka'wakw artist, Dan Wallace. Recently, Ernest has been working on a large pole with Jim Hart at the Bill Reid Gallery in Vancouver.