Harvey Williams

Harvey Williams was born September 1952 on the Ditidaht Reservation (Nitinaht Lake) on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The son of Ray and Ida Williams and grandson of renowned Seattle carver Sam Williams, he is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation.

The Williams family has been carving and selling totem poles ever since the early 1900s when Sam moved from Canada to Washington State. The family is well known by collectors all over North America and Europe.

Under the guidance of his father, Harvey began to carve totems as a boy. Throughout the years, Harvey, along with his wife Josie, have continued the family tradition of creating totem poles and talking sticks. Harvey’s carvings are ornate, often with cut through designs and are alive with carved figures of thunderbirds, frogs, killer whales, and salmon, designs passed on through the Williams family. Josie usually did the painting. She also did designs for silkscreen prints.

Beginning in his 40s, Harvey started to work in silver and gold, bringing to his metal work the style of his family and Nuu-chah-nulth people. Harvey is also noted for his printmaking. The British Museum collection contains a number of silkscreen prints produced by Harvey.

Josie passed away in 2003. Harvey and Josie had three sons and two daughters (Harvey Jr., Ed, Jonathon, Gloria and Jolene). Today, Harvey lives in British Columbia, Canada.