Johnathan Henderson

Johnathan Maxwell Henderson (Wa̱'nu'kw) was born in Alert Bay, BC in 1969 and is a member of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation in Campbell River, BC. Johnathan's father, hereditary chief Dan Henderson, gave him the name Akh Akh yala gilis ("man standing on the beach with his mouth open") when he was initiated as a Hamatsa dancer. As well as being the nephew of Bill Henderson and Mark Henderson, he is the grandson of Chief Sam Henderson and his wife, May Quocksister Henderson. Johnathan is part of the renowned Henderson family of artists and carvers from Campbell River. Johnathan has been deeply immersed in the rich artistic and cultural legacy of his culture from an early age.