Louie Gong facts for kids

Louie Gong (born August 8, 1974) is a cool Canadian American artist, activist, speaker, teacher, and business owner. He uses his art to talk about being Indigenous and multiracial. His work helps people understand identity through art. He also helps Native artists grow their businesses.

Early Life and Learning

Louie Gong was born in Ruskin, British Columbia, Canada. He has a mixed background: Native American (Nooksack), Chinese, French, and Scottish. He grew up in Ruskin, B.C., and later with the Nooksack tribe in Washington State. His grandparents, father, and stepmother raised him.

Louie went to Western Washington University. He earned a master's degree in school counseling. He first worked as a therapist for kids and families from his own tribe. Later, he was a school counselor in the North Kitsap School District. He also worked at the University of Washington and Muckleshoot Tribal College. Since 2012, Louie has been a full-time artist and business owner.

Louie's Work

Art and Business

Louie Gong started a company called Eighth Generation. Through this company, he mixes traditional Coast Salish art with modern pop culture designs. He uses this art to share ideas about identity.

In 2014, he also launched the Inspired Natives Project. Its motto is "Support Inspired Natives, not Native-inspired." This project shows how to respectfully work with Native artists and their culture. It also helps new Native artists become successful business owners. His first partners were Acoma Pueblo artist Michelle Lowden and Anishinaabe artist Sarah Agaton Howes.

In 2011, Louie worked with Manitobah Mukluks. He designed a special boot called the "LG Gatherer." These boots were very popular and sold out quickly. He also teamed up with Paul Frank Industries to create designs for bags, pillows, and blankets.

In 2012, Louie worked with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). They held workshops called "Design Yourself: IAMNMAI." These workshops used his special art toy, Mockups. They helped people explore identity and mixed heritage. Native Max Magazine named Louie Gong one of the "Top 10 Inspirational: Natives Past and Present."

Louie's art has been shown in many places. These include the Seattle Art Museum, the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, and the DePaul Art Museum.

Speaking Up for Change

Louie Gong also works as an activist. He speaks out about social and political issues that affect Native and mixed-race people. His activism has been featured in major news outlets. These include The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, and MSNBC.com. He has also been in Native Peoples Magazine and Indian Country Today Media Network.

From 2007 to 2009, Louie was the board president of the Mavin Foundation. This group helps people learn about mixed-race individuals and families. He also helped create the Mixed Heritage Center.

In 2023, Senator Patty Murray of Washington chose Louie to join the US Senate’s Curatorial Advisory Board. This board helps with art and history in the Senate.

Movies Featuring Louie's Art

Louie Gong's art and activism have been featured in films. One film is UNRESERVED: the Work of Louie Gong by Longhouse Media. This movie was shown at film festivals like Festival De Cannes and National Geographic's All Roads Film Festival. Another film is Schuhe Machen Leute, a documentary made in Germany in 2013.

Louie was asked by costume designer Ruth Carter to design blankets for the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His blankets also appeared in the film Killers of the Flower Moon. Actress Lily Gladstone even wore one of his blankets on the cover of British Vogue when promoting the movie.