George Clutesi

George Clutesi, CM , was a Tseshaht artist, actor and writer, as well as an expert on and spokesman for Native Canadian culture.

Clutesi was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia in 1905. He was raised in his mothers home village after her death when he was four. His father and aunts recognized his ability at an early age and encouraged him to develop his talent. He sought refuge in his art from the pressures brought to bear on him at the Alberni Residential School. At the school, the children were driven to forget their heritage and culture in an effort to force them to assimilate into white culture.

Source: Wikipedia