ARTIST FE ATURE
WINADZI SIMON DANIEL JAMES
Winadzi is an internationally renowned artist in many
student film called “Dawn of Creation,” which was the
media. He has been a carver for more than 35 years—
inspiration for Raven Tales “How Raven Stole the Sun.”
he has, in my eyes, become a master carver. Simon has worked with National Geographic’s “All Roads” Winadzi is from the Kwakwaka’wakw nation, from the
since 2004, and was the first recipient of the Nation-
Kwicksuteniuk clan from Gilford Island on his mother’s
al Geographic “All Roads” Film Grant for “Raven Tales.”
side and from the Gwa'sala 'Nakwaxda'xw from Blund-
Winadzi was the co-creator and co-producer of the “Ra-
en Harbour on his father’s side. He spent his childhood
ven Tales” series and has spent many years promoting it
growing up in Campbell River. At the age of 15 he decid-
all over the world.
ed to start carving and trained under his father, Simon James Sr. —a renowned artist in his own style.
In 2001 Simon was asked to carve three totem poles for Fukushima Japan. He carved another totem pole for the
After leaving Campbell River, Winadzi attended The
Rosser Elementary School in Burnaby BC in 2006 where
Vancouver Film School, where he finished both 2D clas-
every student from K-grade 6 was able to help. This was
sical and 3D computer animation and created a short
the first of many carvings for the Burnaby school district.
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