Chief Tony Hunt was born in Alert Bay in 1942 and would become the Hereditary Chief of the Kwakiutl People of Northern Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. He lived in Fort Rupert until he moved to Victoria in 1952 to work with his Grandfather Mungo Martin. His birth was planned by Martin and Hunt was raised by his grandfather in the tradition of his ancestors from the first day his arrival. As such Hunt was taught traditional Kwakiutl teachings as the first male born of his generation and thus was raised and assumed his hereditary role in 1974 with the acknowledgement of 30 hereditary chiefs and elders who witnessed this ceremony and thereby blessed this appointment.
Since then Hunt has become one of the most respected and revered carvers and artists from British Columbia, with art and pole commissions from the governments of Canada, British Columbia and a number of other public and private commissions around the globe. He has had solo shows and had works shown in New York, The Field Museum in Chicago, Denver Art Museum, Heard Museum in Phoenix, Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, The Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, and a variety of venues in Victoria. His poles can be seen in Victoria, Marioka, Kyoto, Suzuka City, Koln, Bonn, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Rotorua, New Zealand and elsewhere.
Chief Hunt continues to make art and do private and public commissions and restorations. Please go to the contact page to reach Chief Hunt.
Chief Tony Hunt 