CULTURAL GROUP:
Coast Salish

BORN:
January 6, 1962

BIRTHPLACE:
Duncan, BC

Perry LaFortune has received most of his training from his brother, Francis Horne, and has been influenced by his Elders. He has been carving since 1976, and has apprenticed under Francis Horne on several major projects, including assisting in carving four poles for the City of Totems in Duncan. Perry also had the privilege of working with the late Coast Salish master carver, Simon Charlie. In 1988, Perry was invited to go to Singapore to demonstrate carving with Francis Horne, celebrating the inaugural flight of Singapore Airlines to Vancouver. In 2007, Perry acted as Head Carver for the Tsawout Community Canoe Carving Project on Vancouver Island. This project was supported by the Tsawout Nation and the Government of BC, and was designed to encourage the local community to contribute in the carving and creation of a traditional Salish canoe. In 2008, Perry carved a talking stick that was presented to former USA President, Bill Clinton, at the CISION Corporate Responsibility Conference that was held in Vancouver. Perry works in a contemporary Coast Salish style, and many of his pieces strive to emphasize the natural properties of the wood that he uses.