These very qualified people are here to help producers and directors tell an accurate story, and they are also here to help leverage the investment to ensure a long lasting legacy in Clayoquot Sound and elsewhere.

Nuupitaachitl, "Goes Out Once" also known as Joe Martin, is Haayuusinapshiilthl's older brother. He is a master canoe carver and has carved close to fifty canoes over his career with his brothers. He has also travelled to seven countries, speaking to thousands to educate people on his culture, including the United Nations and European Parliament. He is one of the most active members of his community, always sharing his fish, songs, dances, stories, and traditional knowledge. He can often be found carving at his home on the island of Echachist, or at his carving shed at Chesterman Beach, next to the Wickaninnish Inn. He operates Tla-ook Cultural Adventures with his daughters when he's not busy carving. Three men -- Joe Martin, Carl Martin, and the late Billy Martin, have been carving canoes since the sixties, and along with their father Nuukmiis and grandfathers Aaniitsinaas and Nuukmiis, are responsible for reviving the art of canoe making on the west coast. The Martins are known for their canoes all over the world, and the Makah came to them when they wanted a canoe for their whale hunt in 1998. A smaller canoe the Makahs purchased from Joe was used by Johnny Depp's character in the film Dead Man.
tlaook.com

Hiiskuuthsinapshiilthl, "He Comes From War" also known as Carl Martin, is Nuupitaachitl's younger brother. He is also a master canoe carver, working side by side with his brothers Nuupitaachitl and Chiinii-iih, "He Is Always Pulling Up Whales" (also known as Billy) on countless projects that have included canoes, house poles, totem poles, paddles, and traditional fishing tools. No one knows more about the place names of Clayoquot Sound than Hiiskuuthsinapshiilthl. He spent all of his time with his father Nuukmiis hunting and fishing, and they often had to wait out storms. Nuukmiis would tell stories the entire time, and Hiiskuusinapshiilthl is very grateful that he listened. He started recording things in his late teens and has spent much time with many other elders. He helped record over 3000 place names in Clayoquot Sound, with the Hesquiaht and the Ahousaht. During the Meares Island court case he worked daily for two years with archaeologist Arnoud Stryd and anthropologist John Dewhirst to show that his people have lived on Meares Island since time immemorial. He has climbed every peak in the sound except for Tl'aakishtke-iis, but that is on his list. He has been a part of six documentaries, including 'The First Scientists', 'Heartland My People', and 'Saltwater People'. He makes his living as a carver and guide, and is a skilled hunter, gatherer, fisherman, and expert on traditional food and medicine preparation. Hiishkaa can always be found out on his ha'huulthli, land and sea, using it.

Norma Dryden has a degree in journalism from Seattle University. Since 1994 she has put her writing skills and business knowledge to work as a professional grant writer with her company, Clayoquot Associates. She has decades of experience in bringing people together and building things from the ground up. She prefers to work on projects and ideas that have never been done or thought of before. Norma's work has included the development and reconfiguration of organizations through progressive governance models, program design and project delivery, fundraising and partnership development, designing and delivering human resource programs, and designing and delivering educational program components for communities, professional groups, formal educational institutions, and political representatives. She is a founding member and past GM of the Raincoast Interpretive Centre in Tofino, BC. She participates in many community and regional committees and works with the Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre and the Pacific Rim Arts Society, of which she is a board member and President. She is passionate about bridging native and non-native communities and her latest work launching the regional Carving on the Edge Festival in September 2010 has been met with great support from the community, artists, and charitable foundations alike. Norma has been a close family friend of the Martins for over 25 years.
carvingedge.ca

Eli Enns, BA JSC, is the great grandson of Now-waas-suum (Harold Charlie mitt) who was the historian and public speaker for Wickaninnish - head chief of the Tla-o-qui-aht confederation. Over the past six years Eli has worked in Clayoquot Sound on a variety of projects ranging from civil and commercial construction developments to language restoration and restorative justice initiatives. He is currently leading the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation Building Program, furthering the Tribal Parks initiative and working with domestic and international partners in the Canada Africa Learning Alliance. Presently, Eli serves on the Board Of Directors for several organizations both locally and nationally including the Tonquin Foundation, the Tla-o-qui-aht Economic Development Corporation, The Indigenous Cooperative on the Environment and the Tinwis Best Western Resort in Tofino. He is passionate about conveying the complexity and beauty of Tla-o-qui-aht economy and culture prior to contact, and developing alternative economic sectors in Clayoquot Sound.
tonquinfoundation.org

Thom Henley is internationally known as an environmentalist, human-rights advocate, and educator. He has been the recipient of seven national and international human rights and conservation awards, but is most proud of being adopted into six indigenous tribes across the globe. His most recent adoption into a Tibetan family carries an honorary name given by the Dalai Lama himself: "Tenzin Chdrk" - "Strong in Spirit." He championed the largest conservation campaign in Canadian history, the 13.5 year effort to save the southern portion of the Queen Charlotte Archipelago as a national park reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2005, the National Geographic Society judged the "Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site" the best national park in North America. Together with Haida elders in 1978 Thom founded the Rediscovery program to put youth in crisis back in touch with themselves, their culture and the natural world.
thomhenley.com

Mark Myers is an American painter, living in Britain, and is an expert on maritime history. In his early years he became profoundly interested in sailing and maritime history, later adding to this with working experience on board a variety of square-rigged and fore-and-aft-rigged sailing ships. He trained as a historian, and moved to Southwest England in 1971 where he was elected a member in of the Royal Society of Marine Artists in 1975 and served as the Society’s President from 1993 to 1998. He is also a charter member and Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists. He designed and co-founded the Hartland Quay Museum in 1980. Bill Holm is considered by many to be the foremost ethnologist of Northwest Coast first nations. He is also an incredible painter, and sometimes calls on Mark for advice when he puts a ship in his painting. When Mark puts canoes in his paintings, he calls on Bill for advice if needed.
kirstengallery.com

Joe David is the pre-eminent Tla-o-qui-aht artist, and one of the leading Northwest Coast artists of our time. He was born in Opitsaht and grew up in Seattle. Though much of his childhood was spent in Seattle, he maintained a positive connection with his cultural heritage through his late father, Hyacinth David. After attending art school in the late sixties and then working as a commercial artist, Joe's interests turned to Northwest Coast Native art. His friendship with Bill Holm and Duane Pasco led all three into new explorations of the art of Southern Northwest Coast along with their work in the Northern formline style. Working with his cousin, Ron Hamilton, Joe experimented with serigraphs featuring traditional West Coast design motifs in what was for the time a new and innovative medium. Joe was one of the first artists to visit the Māori and begin a cross-cultural dialogue. He also makes a yearly pilgrimage to the American Southwest to participate in the Sun Dance Ceremony. His interest in shamanism, spiritual healing and traditional practices has become a quest and has led him to journey around the world. He has been included in most exhibitions, collections and publications on contemporary Northwest Coast art; as well, he has produced numerous commissioned pieces and participated in events and causes relating to protecting the environment.

Duane Pasco was raised in Alaska and Seattle. He is a highly regarded Northwest Coast style artist and teacher, in particular, a key contributor to reviving the 'Ksan style. He has been professionally active since his first gallery showing in 1966, and was heavily influenced in his artistic development by the writings and works of his friend Bill Holm. Duane started his career around the same time as Joe David, and the two became lifelong friends. Joe learned about Northern design and Tsimshian style masks from Duane, while Duane learned about Nuu-chah-nulth culture and masks. Duane has taught classes at many universities and schools in Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska, notably the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art ('Ksan). His carved totems are publicly viewable at Disney World, Seattle, and Sitka. He is a speaker and expounder of Chinook Jargon. As all the big cedar has been cut in the United States, Duane has adapted, becoming proficient at laminating smaller pieces together. He used this technique to create the Makah canoe that Johnny Depp's character is buried at sea in at the end of the film Dead Man. When possible, he also imports logs from Canada.

Bill Holm is an expert on Northwest Coast native art history. His 1965 term-paper-turned-book "Northwest Coast Indian Art: An Analysis of Form" is currently in its 17th printing and is credited with having drawn a remarkable number of artists into their own practice of Northwest Coast art. In 1942 he became involved with Camp Nor'wester in the San Juan Islands of Washington, and continues to work with youth there to share his appreciation of Northwest Coast art and culture. Longhouses, dugout canoes, dances, and stories make for a unique camp. He moved on to the Burke Museum as Curator of Northwest Coast Indian Art and taught in the Art History Division of the School of Art at the University of Washington. The Bill Holm Center for the Study of Northwest Coast Art was established at the Burke Museum in 2003 to continue his legacy, which has made it one of the premier centers for the study of Native arts of the Pacific Northwest Coast.
billholmcenter.org and civilization.ca

James Baker was born in Lytton, BC at the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers. From a young age he was interested in the first people that called this important juncture home. He and Arnoud Stryd made up the first graduating class of Archaeology from Simon Fraser University and they remained friends and shared many notes over the years. James received a Masters of Archaeology and a Bachelor of Political Science from SFU, and his early work included digs in the Stein Valley, Botany Valley, Fraser Canyon, and at Bella Coola. He recorded over 100 sites in the Stein Valley, helping stop the logging and mining that was proposed for the area. James taught Archaeology and Anthropology at Okanagan University College in Vernon and Kelowna for thirty years, and is Associate Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at UBC Okanagan. He has served as the President of the Kelowna Museum and assisted in the creation of the Lake Country Museum and preservation of the historic site of Fintry. Before the town of Lake Country was incorporated, James served as the Regional Director for twelve years. As Regional Director, James helped establish the region's restorative justice program, and served as a facilitator and mentor for five years. After the region incorporated he served as a councillor for four years. He has been mayor since 2005 and is also the vice chair of the Central Okanagan Regional District Board. As mayor he has won federal grants and provincial awards for sustainable development practices, and established the first joint advisory planning committee with the Okanagan Indian Band. He is Cam's father.

Dan Bruce holds a BSc in Anthropology from London University. He was raised in England and Jamaica, and by 1972 he was 18 and a participant in a dig under the direction of James Baker at Marpole, near the Fraser Arms hotel in Vancouver. Shortly after that he dug with James in the Botany Valley, near Lytton, BC. James was impressed that he knew the Latin name of every flower in that valley, and Dan became a lifelong friend and neighbour of the Bakers. When Cam first spoke to him about the script, Dan shared with him his enormous home library and inspired him to start his own. He has worked as a cowboy in the US and Canada, and is a bronc rider, cattle history expert, past manager of tourism at the Nicola and Eight Mile ranches, artifact restoration expert, past assistant curator of the Kelowna Musuem, and current curator of the historical site of Fintry. He has a strong interest in ancient Egypt and Central America and has led tours for the American Museum of Natural History and others throughout the latter. He is the owner of the Speedwell Bird Sanctuary, with which he has been successful in breeding rare species of birds and returning them to the wild. Dan is also a very accomplished gardener, and his paintings can be found in private collections and museum records. Cam has fond memories of playing in the pithouse Dan built in his backyard a few decades ago.

Keith Plumley came from the Algonquin area of Ontario to live in the wilderness of Clayoquot Sound in 1990, where he raised his family with a primitive, but beautiful lifestyle. He has dedicated his life to finding alternative revenue sources to the industries in the sound that generate few jobs and a wake of devastation. He is working towards the creation of an art centre, where people could come from all over the world, to be inspired by the natural beauty of his home. Reflected in Keith's art and simple lifestyle is a passionate commitment to the natural world. His feelings for old growth rainforests moved him to evolve his wood turning skills, to produce artwork that reflects the monumental size of the old growth trees. All of his work has been made from the waste left behind after clear-cut logging. He has set the national record for the largest piece of wood turned on a lathe, and hopes to set a new world record before long. Since grade three, Keith has studied and collaborated with other artists. For the last seven years he has worked with Nuu-chah-nulth master carver Mark Mickey, originally of Hot Springs Cove, in Hesquiaht territory, about 40 miles north of Tofino. Mark brings ancient traditional knowledge and beautiful lines, worthy of such fine trees, some over 1000 years old.

Haleaka Iolani Pule Dooley (Aunty Aka) lives her life with the intent of bringing peace to humanity through the ancient practice of Ho'oponopono. Haleaka is native Hawaiian and the direct descendant of Hawaii’s highest ali’i (chiefs) and kahu nui (the highest order of priest/priestesses). Born with specific gifts, she was taken and raised by her elders in the old ways without electricity, television, or any modern conveniences, as her elders felt that these things would distract her from the true natural powerful forces of the earth, sun, moon and through these to Akua, the Creator. She is is trained in Ho'oponopono, hula, chanting, la-au, la-ua lapaau (medicinal herbs) and much more. She is also highly adept with many spiritual and celestial realms. Haleaka also has two Bachelor degrees, one in Cultural Anthropology, and one in Administration of Law, specializing in international and land law. Aunty Aka has lectured on the importance of bringing ourselves back into balance with the earth, the spiritual world, the creator, and each other (all our relations) for over 25 years. She has conducted hundreds of workshops all around the world and is continually being sought out by countries in turmoil. She has brought her Mission Aloha to many United Nations sponsored peace and conflict resolution conferences in Japan, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Chechnya, Brazil, and Israel. She says, "Ho'oponopono is Akua's medicine. The ability to make all things right, to bring balance and harmony back into one's life is Ho'oponopono. Ho'oponopono is a true blessing that the Hawaiians have to share with the world."