"My heart and soul lives in my contact and work with native people, and their cultural sensibility."
- Brien Foerster

I have learned through time and experience that life is an evolving process.  Human existence is based upon four aspects... Body, Mind, Heart, and Spirit.

As a child growing up on the west coast of Turtle Island* the oral traditions of the Haida and Kwagiulth people held my fascination.  Through tales of transformation, the flow of energy, movement and consciousness, and a respect for all life, I began to understand the art of being alive and being thankful for this gift.  My childhood was consumed with carving masks and totem poles and other things that relate to a way of being that has lived where I live for millennia.

As friend recently told me; the land that you live upon speaks to you if you wish to listen - the animals, plants, water, air, and earth itself are great teachers.  I have always listened closely to Mother Earth as she speaks to my heart and soul, and have spent my life attempting to channel her spirit through my work.

Over the years, I have explored my personal history and recently found out that my Mother's family has blood lines tracing back to Cree and Beotuk People of Canada's East Coast.  I have also traveled to Europe many times to learn and experience the splendor and beauty of my European roots.

Then Hawai'i drew me to her; a group of islands that had transfixed me since I was a small child.  Volcanoes, sandy beaches, lush forests, and a cultural of powerful people who had traveled in a spiritually directed way to an oasis of beauty.

From 1996 to 1998 I was the assistant project director of the construction of the Mo'okiha O Pi'ilani (the Sacred Serpent That Pierces the Sky ) voyaging double hull canoes on the island of Maui.

I then spent two years in Washington State building up what had become a rather powerful outrigger paddle making business; then moved back to Saltspring Island in British Columbia to continue my work.  The paddle business became my prime focus for several years, and created more than 2500 paddles, presently in use from Japan to Newfoundland, Saskatchewan to Brasil.

However, a seeking mind is always looking for new things to do, so as the outrigger market started becoming to competitive for my liking, I learned about home construction and for the next three years built, renovated, and created all forms of work from more paddles and canoes to furniture and sculpture.

I spent the last winter (of 2006/07) in Peru amongst the Native people there and have fallen in love with the place; and as I write this, I am preparing to assist in completing a 48' canoe for the people of the Dididat Nation (the Nitinat People) to help in their cultural revival.

In the future, I would like to direct my energies towards pieces of form and function; beauty made practical.  I look forward to working with architects, designers, gallery owners, and all others who wish to create unique expressions of the natural world that will enhance their lives.

* Turtle Island is the Native name for America; meaning both South and North America; the two being entwined by the fact that they are all related people; the People of South America being the children of the Condor, and the People of North America being the children of the Eagle, and all being the children of the Sun; the source of life.