George Clutesi
Encyclopedia
George Clutesi, CM
(1905 - 27 February 1988), was a Tseshaht
artist
, actor
and writer
, as well as an expert on and spokesman
for Native Canadian culture.
in 1905. He was raised in his mother's 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.
As an adult, he worked as a fisherman and as a pile driver in order to support his wife and five children. With the encouragement of friends, he began to paint in oils and to exhibit his work during the 1940s and 1950s. Emily Carr
was so impressed with his work that in her will she left him her brushes, oils and unused canvases.
In 1947, he began to contribute essays to the Native Canadian newspaper, The Native Voice. While recovering from an on the job injury, he met the chief of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
in the Vancouver area, Ira Dilworth. With Dilworth's encouragement, he told stories from his heritage on CBC radio. He then wrote a play about the culture of the First Nation's peoples, They were a Happy Singing People. In 1961, he addressed the British Columbia Historical Association on Northwest Coast Native American art urging the preservation of Native American culture.
In 1959, he received the British Columbia Centennial Award and the Canadian Centennial Medal
in 1967. Clutesi was commissioned to paint a mural for Expo 67
. The University of Victoria
granted him an Honorary Doctorate in Law in 1971. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada
in 1973.
Clutesi became one of British Columbia's first Native writers to gain recognition. His Son of Raven, Son of Deer (1967) was one of the first books written about First Nation culture by a Native American. It was followed by Potlatch (1969), which portrayed the Native American ritual
. In the late 1970s, Clutesi appeared in four movies: Prophecy
, Dreamspeaker
, Nightwing
, and Spirit of the Wind. He won a Canadian Film Award for his portrayal of a Native shaman in Dreamspeaker. Clutesi also appeared in a number television programs.
He died in Victoria
in 1988, not long after his final television appearance on the CBC's first nations TV series Spirit Bay
, in which he played an elder who had to deal with a university professor who upsets a 500 year old native burial site.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1905 - 27 February 1988), was a Tseshaht
Tseshaht First Nation
Tseshaht First Nation is an amalgamation of many tribes up and down Alberni Inlet and in the Alberni Valley of central Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. They are a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council which includes all other Nuu-chah-nulth-aht peoples except...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, as well as an expert on and spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
for Native Canadian culture.
Biography
Clutesi was born in Port Alberni, British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in 1905. He was raised in his mother's 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
Canadian residential school system
-History:Founded in the 19th century, the Canadian Indian residential school system was intended to assimilate the children of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada into European-Canadian society...
. At the school, the children were driven to forget their heritage and culture in an effort to force them to assimilate into white culture.
As an adult, he worked as a fisherman and as a pile driver in order to support his wife and five children. With the encouragement of friends, he began to paint in oils and to exhibit his work during the 1940s and 1950s. Emily Carr
Emily Carr
Emily Carr was a Canadian artist and writer heavily inspired by the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. One of the first painters in Canada to adopt a post-impressionist painting style, Carr did not receive widespread recognition for her work until later in her life...
was so impressed with his work that in her will she left him her brushes, oils and unused canvases.
In 1947, he began to contribute essays to the Native Canadian newspaper, The Native Voice. While recovering from an on the job injury, he met the chief of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
in the Vancouver area, Ira Dilworth. With Dilworth's encouragement, he told stories from his heritage on CBC radio. He then wrote a play about the culture of the First Nation's peoples, They were a Happy Singing People. In 1961, he addressed the British Columbia Historical Association on Northwest Coast Native American art urging the preservation of Native American culture.
In 1959, he received the British Columbia Centennial Award and the Canadian Centennial Medal
Canadian Centennial Medal
The Canadian Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1967 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation and was awarded to Canadians who were recommended by governments and professional, educational and cultural associations, as well as...
in 1967. Clutesi was commissioned to paint a mural for Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
. The University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
granted him an Honorary Doctorate in Law in 1971. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1973.
Clutesi became one of British Columbia's first Native writers to gain recognition. His Son of Raven, Son of Deer (1967) was one of the first books written about First Nation culture by a Native American. It was followed by Potlatch (1969), which portrayed the Native American ritual
Potlatch
A potlatch is a gift-giving festival and primary economic system practiced by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and United States. This includes Heiltsuk Nation, Haida, Nuxalk, Tlingit, Makah, Tsimshian, Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Coast Salish cultures...
. In the late 1970s, Clutesi appeared in four movies: Prophecy
Prophecy (film)
Prophecy is a 1979 horror film directed by John Frankenheimer and written by David Seltzer. It stars Robert Foxworth, Talia Shire and Armand Assante....
, Dreamspeaker
Dreamspeaker
Dreamspeaker is a novel by Canadian author Anne Cameron also known as Cam Hubert. It was first published in 1978 by Clarke, Irwin & Company....
, Nightwing
Nightwing (film)
Nightwing is a 1979 American horror film directed by Arthur Hiller. The screenplay by Martin Cruz Smith, Steve Shagan, and Bud Shrake is based on the 1977 novel of the same title by Smith...
, and Spirit of the Wind. He won a Canadian Film Award for his portrayal of a Native shaman in Dreamspeaker. Clutesi also appeared in a number television programs.
He died in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in 1988, not long after his final television appearance on the CBC's first nations TV series Spirit Bay
Spirit Bay
Spirit Bay was an aboriginal family television show of 14 half-hour episodes that aired on CBC and TV Ontario from 1980 to 1986. The show focuses on the lives of townsfolk on an Ojibwe reservation town in MacDiarmid, Ontario. Here, the residents have adapted to white society while retaining...
, in which he played an elder who had to deal with a university professor who upsets a 500 year old native burial site.
Filmography
- ProphecyProphecy (film)Prophecy is a 1979 horror film directed by John Frankenheimer and written by David Seltzer. It stars Robert Foxworth, Talia Shire and Armand Assante....
(1979) - DreamspeakerDreamspeakerDreamspeaker is a novel by Canadian author Anne Cameron also known as Cam Hubert. It was first published in 1978 by Clarke, Irwin & Company....
(1979) - Nightwing (1979)
- Spirit of the Wind (1979)
- Kelly (1981)
- Gentle Sinners (1983)
- Running Brave (1983)
- Isaac Littlefeathers 1984
- Toby McTeagueToby McTeagueToby McTeague is a 1986 film about a teenager who does not care much about school. In fact, he has his eyes on the title of a prestigious dogsled race....
1986