Tony Hunt

Born in Alert Bay, BC, Chief Tony Hunt lived at Fort Rupert on northern Vancouver Island until his family moved to Victoria in 1952. As a youngster, he received instruction in carving and dancing from his grandfather, Mungo Martin.

In 1962, after the death of Mungo Martin, he became the assistant carver at Thunderbird Park, working with his father Henry Hunt. He continued to carve for the Royal British Columbia Museum until 1972 when he resigned to devote his full attention to the Arts of the Raven Gallery, which he opened in 1970. His most accomplished work is the KwaGulth ceremonial big house at Fort Rupert, which is the largest traditional native structure in the Pacific Northwest. As well as making carvings, jewelry, and silkscreen prints, the Arts of the Raven Gallery trained a number of new artists.

In addition to his success in the promotion and production of Northwest Coast art, Hunt maintained an active connection with his Kwakwaka’wakw heritage. He carved and erected a pole in honour of his grandfather, Jonathan Hunt, and also potlatched to legitimize the ceremonial names and privileges that he claimed.