Joshua Prescott

Joshua Shaw/Prescott is a Cree and adopted Nuu-chah-nulth artist born in Victoria, BC in 1982. Joshua's known for his fine woodworking, detailed carving and painting. In addition to his art practice, Joshua is involved with the Nuu-chah-nulth Cultural Society, an organization working to revitalize the Nuu-chah-nulth language, and is also the speaker for a local Chief. His Nučan̓uł name is t̓aqumsʔaqƛ. He lives and works in Port Alberni on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Joshua writes "Design is a language. I believe we are physical beings. We are always receiving and giving off energy. Energy is a language, energy never lies. Art is spiritual. Looking back on these pieces I can recognize my own growth as an artist. For the past ten years, I have been learning to speak my children's language nuuchahnulth; I consider it my language now. The elders I have worked with over the years always accepted me. They say ours instead of mine. I have been learning to tell what we call himwica stories. These are stories that teach and grow the mind. For the past four years, I have desired to connect my artwork with storytelling. I am now able to tell stories in nuchahnulth. This is the direction of my life now to become as fluent in nuchahnulth as I can and to pass on what I know before I die. People see art work, but there is much more. To share a piece of nuuchahnulth wisdom hishukish cawaak 'everything is one, everything is interconnected'. Thank you to all the people who support me. I want to thank Julia Lucas for teaching me her beautiful language and way of living, loving me and accepting me. I have a path because of you chuu. t̓aqumsʔaqƛ  Joshua Shaw/Prescott"