CULTURAL GROUP:
Haida/Haisla

BORN:
1865 (d. 1933)

BIRTHPLACE:
Kitimaat Village, BC

Alfred Wesley's father was Haida and his mother was Haisla; thus, he borrowed from both cultural traditions. He spent most of his life living in Kitimaat. Around the year 1890, Wesley traveled to Haida Gwaii and stayed there with family while he learned to carve from various local artists. He is perhaps best known for his model totem poles which display non-traditional colours (such as blues and greens) and exaggerated design elements.