Jaalen Edenshaw

Haida Nation

Jaalen Edenshaw is a member of the Tsaahl – Eagle Clan of the Haida Nation. He was born in 1980 and grew up in an old boat shed in the town of Masset on Haida Gwaii. At 16, Jaalen moved from the Islands for schooling. After completing his B.A. in Political Science at the University of Victoria in 2003, he returned home to Haida Gwaii with his wife, Amanda, and their young daughter.

Jaalen has always been surrounded by Haida art. At 13, he started studying different Haida works and began learning the intricacies of the design. Jaalen has apprenticed under and received guidance from Guujaaw and Jim Hart RCA, as well as from many other artists who willingly shared their knowledge. His apprenticeships have included: working on several totem poles, the smithing of Copper Shields, and the building of two canoes (18′ and 35′). Other artistic accomplishments include participation in several art exhibitions including the 2006 exhibition of Haida Art, Raven Traveling, at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Jaalen is now working in two-dimensional design, argillite, copper and wood. His work is inspired by the old Haida stories and the ever-changing Haida culture. The preservation of Haida language is very important to him. He and his family are dedicated to learning their language.