Ki-Ke-In

Ki-Ke-In
Born (1948-02-11) February 11, 1948 (age 76)
NationalityCanadian
Other namesChuuchkamalthnii
Haa'yuups
Ron Hamilton
Known forMultimedia

Ki-Ke-In, also known as Chuuchkamalthnii, Haa'yuups, and Ron Hamilton is a Nuu-chah-nulth cultural figure from the Hupacasath First Nation. His work includes sculpture, drawings, paintings, dance, song, writing, regalia and curatorial activities which document the ceremonial life of his people.[1] A resident of Port Alberni, Ki-ke-in's exhibition of his own and historical Nuu-chah-nulth ceremonial curtains at the University of British Columbia formed part of the 2010 Vancouver Cultural Olympiad.[2][3] A fisherman by trade, the resources he works with are Campbell River slate, wood, silver, gold, and ivory, often modelling his work on the sea serpent.[4]

In 2006, he worked for a month with the National Museum of the American Indian, "writing artifact descriptions and a chapter in the accompanying exhibit book" and singing "an ancient ciquaa (prayer chant)" and "speaking to the artifacts in his language and assuring them they are safe and in a good place." [5] In 2018, he was named co-curator of a "multi-year project to restore and conserve a section that highlights First Nations cultures of the Pacific Northwest" at the American Museum of Natural History.[6]

References

  1. ^ Thom, Ian M. (2009). Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast. Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 9781553654148.
  2. ^ "2010 Cultural Olympiad opening the curtain on aboriginal art". 20 January 2010.
  3. ^ http://www.newswire.ca/fr/releases/archive/September2009/21/c6925.html [dead link]
  4. ^ "Ron (Ki-Ke-In) Hamilton (1948- ), Nuu-chah-nulth artist biography and portfolio". Spirit Wrestler Gallery. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  5. ^ "Nuu-chah-nulth culture displayed in D.C. | Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper". 18 December 2012.
  6. ^ "B.C. Nuu-chah-nulth artist named co-curator of NYC museum restoration project | CBC News".