My Haida names are Aay Aay and sGidgyaaGans. I am from the Skidegate Gidins (Eagles of Skidegate) clan from Haida Gwaii. In 2005, while I was a watchman at Hot Springs Island in Gwaii Haanas, I learned how to weave cedar bark with my Nanaay (grandmother) and another co-worker.
In 2008 I was asked to do a Raven’s Tail course with Evelyn Vanderhoop, who is a well-known weaver. I continued to learn from my mentor Evelyn and learned Naaxiin (Chilkat weaving) in 2013 and completed an advanced Naaxiin course for weaving in 2014. In 2017, I began to reach out to other artists to learn jewelry-making. I started by learning how to engrave silver and copper, and learned casting and jewelry techniques with sisters, Val and Wendy Malesku. In addition to weaving, I now have my own line of jewelry castings which are done using the lost wax technique.
See our selection of art and jewelry by Aay Aay Hans.