Talon George

Talon George was born May 3, 2004, in Nanaimo, BC, and is a Kwakwaka’wakw artist from the Gwa’sala and ‘Nakwaxda’xw First Nations. Talon grew up in Port Hardy, BC where he learned the ways of his people from many teachers. At the age of five years old he was inspired by his Uncle Walter Brown’s artwork and started to do little drawings on scrap pieces of paper or cardboard, learning the meaning in what he created and the rights. At ten years of age, Talon started carving under the mentorship of Walter Brown. Talon picked up singing, dancing, and painting along the way. With the knowledge he gained, he took his carvings and drawings to school to show the meanings of each one.

In the summer of 2019 until the spring of 2021, Talon had the opportunity to learn from, and work together with Campbell River carvers Junior Henderson, Greg Henderson, Jonathan Henderson, and Master Carver Bill Henderson. Together with other local carvers, Talon worked on the house posts and monumental carvings for the new Gwa’sala and ‘Nakwaxda’xw Big House in Port Hardy.