Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

My favorite art form is carving with traditional knives, working directly into cedar from the land. There’s something powerful about shaping a living material with hand tools, feeling every cut and line as it comes to life. Cedar carries spirit, history, and connection, and carving it allows me to honor that while expressing story and identity. It’s a process that keeps me grounded, connected, and rooted in tradition.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in the emotions and stories all around us what’s happening in the world, the damage to our earth and waters, and the need for healing. There’s truth in the struggles we face today and in helping people recover and rebuild. My own past, living a hard life, also fuels my work. Everyday life, both pain and strength, gives me purpose and something real to express through my art.

What would you do with $25,000?

If I won the $25,000, I would continue creating meaningful art that has impact. I’d invest in quality materials to expand what I can make and push my work further. I’d also use it to give back and support others when needed, using art as a way to uplift, tell important stories, and strengthen my community.