George Clutesi facts for kids

George Clutesi, CM (1905 – 1988), was a talented artist, actor, and writer. He was a member of the Tseshaht First Nation, an Indigenous group from British Columbia, Canada. George was also an expert who helped share and preserve the cultures of all First Nations in Canada.

Biography

Early Life and Art

George Clutesi was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, in 1905. When he was four, his mother passed away. He then went to live in his mother's home village in the Broken Group. His father and aunts saw his artistic skills early on. They encouraged him to develop his talents.

George went to the Alberni Residential School. At these schools, Indigenous children were encouraged to learn new ways. George found comfort in his art during his time there.

As an adult, George worked as a fisherman and a pile driver. He did this to support his wife and five children. Friends encouraged him to start painting with oils. He began to show his artwork in the 1940s and 1950s. The famous artist Emily Carr was very impressed by his work. In her will, she even left him her brushes, oils, and unused canvases.

Sharing Stories and Culture

In 1947, George Clutesi started writing essays for The Native Voice. This was the first newspaper for Aboriginal people in Canada. While recovering from an injury, he met Ira Dilworth from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). With encouragement from Dilworth, George began telling stories from his heritage on CBC radio.

He then wrote a play about First Nations cultures. It was called They were a Happy Singing People. In 1961, he spoke to the British Columbia Historical Association. He urged them to help protect Indigenous cultures and art from the Northwest Coast.

Awards and Recognition

George Clutesi received many honors for his work. In 1959, he won the British Columbia Centennial Award. He also received the Canadian Centennial Medal in 1967. George was asked to paint a large mural for Expo 67, a big world's fair.

The University of Victoria gave him an Honorary Doctorate in Law in 1971. This was a special degree recognizing his achievements. In 1973, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors.

Writer and Actor

George Clutesi became one of the first Indigenous writers in British Columbia to be widely recognized. His book Son of Raven, Son of Deer (1967) was very important. It was one of the first books written about the Tseshaht First Nation culture by a Nuu-chah-nulth author. He followed this with Potlatch (1969). This book showed important parts of the Potlatch, a traditional ceremony.

In the late 1970s, George Clutesi also became an actor. He appeared in four movies: Prophecy, Dreamspeaker, Nightwing, and Spirit of the Wind. He won a Canadian Film Award for his role as a Native shaman in Dreamspeaker. George also appeared in several television shows.

He passed away in Victoria in 1988. This was shortly after his last TV appearance on the CBC show Spirit Bay. In that series, he played an elder who helped children understand their Indigenous culture.