Corrine Hunt facts for kids

Corrine Hunt (born in 1959), also known by her traditional name Nugwam Gelatleg'lees, is a talented Indigenous artist from the Kwakwaka'wakw and Tlingit nations. She is a carver, jeweller, and designer. Corrine lives and works in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Corrine Hunt's Early Life and Family

Corrine Hunt was born in 1959. She is a member of the Raven Gwa'waina clan from Ts'akis, also known as Alert Bay, British Columbia.

Her great-grandmother, A'naeesla'ga, was a member of the Raven clan of the Taantakwáan tribe of the Tlingit nation. This nation is found in what is now southeastern Alaska. In 1965, Corrine inherited the name Nugwam Gelatleg'lees from her. This special name means "Killer Whale scratching her back on the beach."

Corrine's family includes many famous Kwakwakaʼwakw artists. These include Henry Hunt, Tony Hunt, Richard Hunt, and Stanley Hunt. Her uncle, Norman Brotchie, was a jewellery engraver. He helped spark her interest in creating art. He also introduced her to the beautiful Kwakwaka'wakw art style.

Corrine has lived in the Vancouver area since 1975. She studied Anthropology and Latin American studies at Simon Fraser University.

Amazing Artworks and Designs

Corrine Hunt creates many different kinds of art. She makes engraved gold and silver jewellery and accessories. She also designs custom furniture using carved stainless steel and reclaimed wood.

Her work also includes modern totem poles and other large art pieces. You can see her sculptures at places like the Hilton Hotel Whistler and Port Coquitlam City Hall.

Designing Olympic Medals

In 2009, Corrine Hunt helped design the medals for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. She worked with designer Omer Arbel on this important project. She also designed medals for the North American Outgames in Vancouver in 2011.

Other Cool Designs

Corrine designed the logo for the 2006 World Peace Forum, which was held in Vancouver. She has also created designs for eyeglasses and fashion accessories for the Claudia Alan collection.

She even designed special mukluks (soft boots) for the "Corrine Hunt collection for Manitobah." These included two styles: Bear and Hummingbird & Flower. In 2018, Corrine also designed the jackets worn by the Canadian snowboarding team during the 2018 Olympic Games.

Her table from 2010, called Kwakwaka'wakw, is a great example of Northwest Coast art being used in modern ways. You can see this table at the Canadian Museum of History.

Art Exhibitions

Corrine Hunt's art has been shown in many exhibitions. Here are some of them:

• 1988 Zuni Gallery, Solo shows in Düsseldorf and Hamburg.
• 1989 Navajo Gallery, Portland, OR. Solo Show.
• 1990 Navajo Gallery, Portland, OR. Solo Show.
• 1991 Granville Native Art Group Show.
• 1993 Echoes of Chiefly Feasts: Masterworks by Eleven members of the Hunt Family, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC.
• 2005 Shine: Adornments of the Northwest Coast, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC.
• 2011 "The Power of Giving: The Potlatch in the Kwakwaka'wakw Big House from the Canadian Northwest Coast", Dresden: Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau, Exhibition Designer.
• 2015/2016 Olaka Iku Da Nala "It's a Good Day". Coastal Peoples Gallery, Vancouver, BC. Solo Show.

Awards and Recognition

In 2011, Corrine Hunt received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award. This award is now called the Indspire Awards. She earned it for her amazing career and for being a great role model for Indigenous youth.

Books About Corrine Hunt

• Olaka Iku Da Nala: It is a Good Day (2012)