Eugene Alfred: Carver & Sculptor

The Adäka Cultural Festival in Whitehorse is a gathering place for all sorts of talented people. While walking the festival grounds I saw a boy no older than 12 using a drill to carve shapes into a small piece of bone. A 9-year-old Tlingit girl named Ella of Ella's Jewelry drew pictures next to tiny moccasin earrings she had made out of clay.

Across from Ella, Eugene Alfred of the Crow Clan of Selkirk First Nation was sending wood chips flying.

Alfred showcased his craft at the Adäka Cultural Festival on July 2. His current project is a carving which honours Beaver Man, an important figure in his Indigenous history who had the body of a man, but the tail and teeth of a beaver.

Alfred grew up peacefully with his grandparents living off the land, hunting and fishing. “We didn’t have much,” he says, “a lot of it came from the land.” Now, Alfred uses Swiss carving tools to create his pieces. He uses larger tools for rough work.

He grew up in an artistic family. Alfred’s grandmother was known for her beadwork. His uncle was a sketch artist. At early ages, he would draw on cardboard and carve his own toys out of wood using pocket knives. He outlines his pieces with pencil before carving.

He attended and taught at Ksan, an Indigenous art school in northern British Columbia. He says his art allows him to connect to his culture, his community, and his history. He shapes the wood through rough work before carving more detail.

Alfred uses sharper tools for sharper angles. Smaller knives allow him to carve intricate details.

Alfred says his grandfather, who was in an Indigenous dance group, had regalia stolen and placed in museums. This is common, Alfred says, many communities have pieces of art stolen and they are very difficult to find. The artists and owners are never compensated, and the objects are never returned, he says.

Alfred says his art opens doors and builds relationships. “I travel the world with it. All I’ve ever done is try to educate through my art,” he says. He uses mallets and hammers to create deeper dents in the wood.

Next to Alfred’s current project is another carving of Beaver Man, this one sitting upright in a resting pose. Alfred says Northern Tutchone and Tlingit histories are passed down orally, and his carvings represent one of the first times their stories have been embodied.

Alfred creates sculptures in the Northern Tutchone style of art, which is known for rigid linework and distinct centrelines. The pieces are divided down their centre and are absolutely symmetrical on both sides.

Alfred’s work has gained international attention. The carving of Beaver Man he is currently working on is destined for a museum in Northern Japan when it's completed. He has work displayed in Canada’s Senate building, and the private collection of the Emperor of Japan.

“My art helps define me. It helps me understand and respect our land, who and what we are,” he says. “It gives me a direction and leads me down a path. It opens a door for others to follow. They can come along and hear the stories.”

Alfred's website is here.