CULTURAL GROUP:
Haisla

BORN:
1934 (d. 2016)

BIRTHPLACE:
Kemano/Kitlope, BC

Henry Robertson's crest is the Raven. His Haisla name is Ga-ba-baawk, which means "Ten Ravens." Henry began to carve at age ten, and was influenced by his father, carver Gordon Robertson. He carves masks, feast bowls, and totem poles, and his work has been exhibited in the United States and Canada. Henry especially enjoys carving large-scale totem poles, and he carved a totem pole for the Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Vancouver, BC. He was also responsible for the Aboriginal Pavilion at the PNE in Vancouver from 2004-2006. In addition, Henry oversaw the recreation of a 19th century G'psgolox pole that was made for Sweden as part of a repatriation deal between Sweden and Canada. He was also a member of the Haisla Totem Pole Repatriation Project, and was featured in the NFB documentary Totem: The Return of the G’psgolox Pole. Henry's nephews are Haisla artists Derek Wilson, Gary Wilson, and Barry Wilson, and he has influenced them in their work.