At contact time, around 1895 at New Hazelton there was a large Native village ten miles east of the town, it was the Wet’suwet’en tribe’s garden of Eden (where we began in Ice-age). This young man went hunting, it was hot that day, high in the mountains out side of the village, and he came across a “white bear spirit” water-falls. Where the, white spirit bear hangs out. The water looked so fresh he decided to cool-off with a dip. This warrior had just received a new flintlock rifle as a gift, he put the rifle down beside the waterfalls and into the falls he went.

Yes! This is it, how fresh!

To his surprise when he leaned into the falls he could see the opening to a huge valley, the valley was like nothing he had ever seen, it was gorgeous and supernatural. Suddenly out of nowhere came these little people, at first they were just curious then they became outwardly friendly. They climbed all over this big stranger and they began to play with him. He joined the fun. They were having a great time and time just passed by. Soon the Warrior became tired he wanted to sleep, but he knew he had to go home soon.

The little people said to him, don’t worry we will look after you, just have your nap. So he did. He woke up hours later. My heavens, I must be getting home, my family will miss me, he said.

He jumped up and went to the clearing where the waterfalls were and stepped out. Right away he noticed something wrong; his flintlock rifle was all rusted. Where had the time went? I was only sleeping for a couple of hours. He quickly began the trek home.

Near his village he came across some of his friends they were ecstatic and extremely overjoyed to see him. They quickly exclaimed that the warrior had been missing for ten years and they had looked all over for him. He was now found!

His family was happy, they planned a big Native Feast, and people from Prince Rupert to Prince George were invited.

The young warrior told his story to all the guests, he could not explain the loss of time and no one went near the White Spirit bear waterfalls where he went missing, they were just glad they’re son was back!     

 An ancient culture, it is not surprising that these tribes produce good native artists. One of them is Robert E Sebastian.

Sebastian of the White Wolf Clan, House of Spookx was born in 1952. The moon of falling leaves, October 25, Hazelton was a river of native art. Life in Hazelton was for the strong. If you worked hard you lived well. This is his engine. Canadian culture is a brutal pace today, that only excites Robert.

Sebastian’s native name is, Gwin-Jakwsxw, meaning, dying to kill something.

The Sebastian pallet has touched worldly collections including that of the British Royal Family, with the largest of these collections, being at the University of Victoria, Maltwood Museum. In 1981 Gwin-Jakwsxw broke bread with the then Governor General of Canada, Edward Schreyer, His Excellency Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. As well he has appeared with Fergie Jenkins, Donald Sutherland, the Vancouver Canucks, the Montreal Expos and the Japanese National Hockey Team at events where presentations of his works were the highlights of the days activities.

In 1982 he travelled to Adelaide, Australia to dance before representatives of 144 countries for a United Nations Museum’s conference. He has also danced in Kansas City, Missouri, Ottawa and Montreal as part of the touring ‘Ksan native dance group.

 Robert danced for the Ksan Dancers for fifteen years. He now leads a native dance group called the Gitxsan All Clans Dancers.

A journalist, outdoorsman, painter, jeweller, dancer and role model he finds the Canadian landscape and wildlife a Mecca for his: paintbrush, pen and camera.

The contemporary image’s he paints give: animals movement, birds fly, people sing and mosquitoes dance. He calls his creative process, ‘looking at today’s world through thousand-year-old eyes’. He has produced over 120 editions of limited edition prints, averaging 100 prints per edition, which continue to rise in value year after year. As well he produces original paintings, carved plaques, scaled drawings and large carved commissions.

Recently Sebastian twined with his older brother, Ronald Sebastian, a master carver and assisted him in doing an Estate Totem pole that sits on the outskirts of London, England.

A special highlight in Robert’s career came with a supporting role in the made for Television documentary, The Newcomers commissioned by Esso of Canada. More recently a Mountain Ram print was chosen by Monty Basset in his soon to be released documentary, “Sheep of stone”, for Discovery Channel.

The City of Prince George is his home away from home. A city that has presented his prints to the Mayors of: Aomori and Sapporo in Japan;  Lulea and Kiruna in Sweden and Teipei, Taiwan. A city, where he helped start the Native centre, first did radio and climbed an International ladder that helps him look in every direction, as his forefathers did.