Corey Bulpitt

Taakeit Aaya

Haida (Naikun Raven clan)

Artist Statement

Untitled

We are not supposed to be doing this, we are not supposed to be proud of our heritage, know our clan affiliation, dances, songs or language. We are part of an anomaly. We are a part of our ancestors that Canada, using all possible efforts, could not eradicate. We are cultural people, we know where we are from, we have deep rooted connection to the water and the land. We are still fighting to regain respect as human beings, we are fighting to stop the eradication of all that is sacred, the cedar and the salmon are in great peril, our languages are just holding on by a thread.

This wand, or shamans dagger represents our need for medicine, our need to learn to fight this spiritual battle, we call upon our ancestors for help as the fight against us and our territories always increases with a continued ignorance held by the Canadian government. The moon watches over all of us and is one of my fathers crests, this dagger is inspired by an old Tlingit shamans wand. The end with the moon also creates a peace sign, the ultimate goal of our war, is peace and to give Canadians and the world an understanding of who we are, why these things are sacred to us and why we have no choice but to stand against tyranny and terror bestowed upon us, the original people and protectors of these lands.

Artist Bio

Corey Bulpitt, also known as Taakeit Aaya or “Gifted Carver” by the Haida of the Naikun Raven clan, was born in Prince Rupert BC in 1978. He is a great-great grandson of the famed Charles Edenshaw and Louis Collison.

Corey graduated from the Langley Fine Arts School in 1996. In 2001, he apprenticed under Master Carver Christian White for three years in Haida Gwaii, learning design and wood carving. Corey has worked beside and learned from many master carvers such as Sharon Hitchcock, Wayne Alfred, Donny Edenshaw, Phil Grey, and Jay Simeon. His biggest influences are the old master carvers of the 17th to late 19th century whose skills are left unmatched. Through his study Corey creates functional pieces that can be used in the traditional context of song and dance.

Corey has carved many totem poles, including ones carved with Christian White, Jim Hart, Dwayne Simeon and Beau Dick and a pole in New Zealand with Maori Master Lionel Grant and North West Coast carvers Dempsey Bob, Joe David and Christian White. In 2010, Corey assisted in crafting a 30’ pole with Klatle Bhi for the Winter Olympics.

He is also an avid painter, jeweler, wood and argillite carver who enjoys exploring different mediums such as spray paint and performance art. His contemporary graffiti art pieces can be seen in many museums, festivals like W2’s New Form Festival, and urban landscapes and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Corey is a member of the Beat Nation Live-Arts Collective and crafted a performance art project for the Sydney Biennale.

In 2017, Corey received a BC Creative Achievement Award for Aboriginal Art.