My name is Wenuk. I am from the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. I grew up in the beautiful Clayoquot Sound in Tofino, known by our people as Nuchaks near the beautiful Long Beach.

My family who still practices our First Nations cultural songs, dances, teachings and values which continue to be passed onto the next generation in our family. I acknowledge my grandparents for passing on the cultural practices, back in the time when our potlatch was banned my grandparents practiced in secrecy. Now we practice our cultural ways in the best way we know how, instilling pride in our children and grandchildren.

My love for weaving began when I saw baskets made by Nuu-chah-nulth weavers. I was so facinated by weaving and I wondered how it was done, it wasn't until about five years later when I met someone who was patient enough to share her talent with me. I have been weaving since 1994, I was taught by a skilled weaver from Nit Nat, who are well known for their excellent weaving.


I come from a long line of artisists, both my grandmothers were weavers and both my grandfathers were canoe carvers. I am ever greatful to have learned how to weave since there weren't any women in my community who were weaving at the time. For many years the art of weaving wasn't something that was not seen, now there are more women sharing the gift of weaving with others. Weaving is still on the come back, many weavers continue to share openly their skills of this fine art. Today we can still see the incredable creations done by many weavers who've passed on, their weaving still inspires us today to continue weaving with the same love they did.


I have shared with Nuu-chah-nulth people how to weave, because I know from my own experience how rare it was to find someone who had the time and patience to teach me how to weave. I continue to develop my weaving skills and sometimes I don't have someone to ask how to do something so I have to learn things on my own. In the beginning when I was learning how to split cedar bark I had to learn by my mistakes, I shreded a lot of cedar until I got the right thickness and width in the cedar bark.


Recently I learned how to pound cedar bark which makes the best rope and capes. There is just so much to learn about weaving with red cedar, there is always something for me to learn.