Henderson, Bill

Bill Henderson is a Kwakwaka’wakw Master Carver and a member of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation in Campbell River, BC. He is one of seventeen children born to artist Sam Henderson and wife, May Quocksister Henderson. Sam Henderson was born in Ba’as (Blunden Harbour) and later moved to Campbell River after marrying May, Bill’s mother.

“From an early age on, I witnessed my father carve. Because he didn’t talk much, he just picked up the tools and I watched him in his work. Not long after, my Dad wouldn't let me use his tools. Because he always made his own tools, he also wanted me to learn how to make my own tools. I didn’t carve alone, my brothers Ernie, Dan and Mark were artists too. During my lifetime, carving has taken me around the world. Growing up, we had no present's but we always ate well and had dinner together most of the time. Our family was poor but we grew up living off the land and I still had a great childhood. We didn’t have much money, so I carved my own toys and boats as a child. Over the years, I did fishing, tree planting, logging but I always came back to carving, fishing, hunting and the smoking of fish. Back in the day, our family would smoke fish for five days then just hang it on the wall. With the food we generated, we did a lot of bartering in the community. A man came from Cumberland, with an old ford and he never wanted money. He would barter the fish for turnips and carrots. We would receive sacks and sacks for our family, and once he left the house, we would bury them in the ground because we did not have freezers in those days. I can’t say enough about growing up on the land. When I was young, my siblings and I would kick our legs near the water and ask the Orcas to visit us. We thought they listened because dozens of killer whales used to visit us. Thinking back now, maybe they thought we were seals splashing in the water.”

(excerpt from the Campbell River Travel website - interview with Bill Henderson)

Bill Henderson has carved more than 50 totem poles worldwide. Those poles have been raised in counties like Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and many other places in the world. Throughout his years of carving, he also donated many pieces to families and Kwakwaka'wakw communities.

At'la'kwis - Hunter of the Woods Mask by Bill Henderson - SOLD

Hunter of the Woods, At'la'kwis cedar mask by Bill Henderson, Kwakiulth

Sale Pending

Captivating Snowy Owl mask by Bill Henderson - SOLD

White / Snowy Owl by master artist Bill Henderson, Wei-Wai Kum First Nation

SOLD