User:Pretzelles/Norman Tait

Norman Tait

Early life and family

Tait's father Josiah was a chief in the wolf clan.

Career

In 1973, Tait worked at the Centennial Museum in Vancouver. He carved masks, bowls, totems and rattles.

In 1973, Tait and his father carved Heritage Totem, a 36 feet (11 m) pole for erection at Port Edward, British Columbia. The pole features carvings of an eagle, a raven, a halibut fisherman, a killer whale, a grizzly bear, a salmon fisherman and a beaver. It was created to honour the Nisga'a, the Tsimshian, the Haida and the Gitxsan. The pole was raised on 1 July 1973.

In 1975, Tait began working with the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology to restore the Eagle-Halibut totem pole (also known as the Laa'i pole). Originally carved by Oyai Tait in the nineteenth century, it was erected in the village of Gwunwawq near the Nass River. It was purchased by the university in 1947, but remained in storage until a suitable exhibition space was created. Tait's restoration of the pole took eight months and it was unveiled on 14 September 1976.

On 1 November 1977, the Museum of Anthropology began an exhibition showing Tait's work. It was the first major exhibition of his work and showcased a range of masks, bowls, rattles, jewellery and silkscreen prints created by Tait. It ran until 31 January 1978.

In November 1977, Tait began work on carving a new 16 feet (4.9 m) cedar pole.

Personal life

Tait had a son called Isaac and a daughter named Valerie.