Wayne Price’s artistry as a wood carver in the Tlingit tradition of the Pacific Northwest Coast is recognized the world over. His work, which ranges from restoring or duplicating historic totem poles to creating oceangoing dugout canoes with ancient traditional techniques, has been displayed throughout Canada and his native Alaska and as far away as Japan, where one of his canoes is on permanent display at the Hokkaido Museum. This past April, the Rasmuson Foundation, which each year recognizes one Alaska artist for a lifetime of creative excellence and outstanding contribution to the state’s arts and culture, named Wayne its 2020 Distinguished Artist.

Long passionate about honoring and celebrating the traditions of his Indigenous forebears, Wayne has found a more focused mission since receiving a spiritual mandate and embarking on his own sobriety 17 years ago. He now uses his art as a healing tool to guide young people out of addiction and to commemorate all the lives lost to the many traumas inflicted on Indigenous peoples over the centuries.

In this interview with Pier Carlo Talenti, Wayne details how, through tireless artistic practice and focused listening, he became the community teacher, guide and healer he is today.

https://www.shakatmedia.com/shakatmedia?wix-vod-video-id=7e9f67cc10434cafbf543993bf236041&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-k8sx4pr8

https://www.rasmuson.org/arts/individual-artist-awards/distinguished-artists/#2020