- Freda Diesing
Freda Diesing (
June 2 ,1925 -December 4 ,2002 ) was one of very few female carvers of Northwest Coasttotem poles and a member of theHaida First Nation ofBritish Columbia , Canada.She was born in Prince Rupert, B.C., in 1925 and was one of the first students at the
Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art ('Ksan) at Hazelton, B.C., inGitksan territory. There she received instruction from the art historian Bill Holm, and the First Nations artists Tony Hunt (Kwakwaka'wakw ) and Robert Davidson (Haida). She has carved masks and bowls as well as totem poles.Her poles include two poles raised at the
Tsimshian community ofKitsumkalum near Terrace, B.C., with the assistance of a Tsimshian team, a 1987 pole for the RCMP station in Terrace, and poles in Prince Rupert.Her students include many of the most acclaimed artist working today:
Dempsey Bob ,Nathaniel P. Wilkerson ,Norman Tait , her nephewDon Yeomans (b. 1958), and many others. She lived in Terrace in her later years, and can be credited with instructing numerous students throughout the pacific northwest.Freda Diesing has received many honors and awards. She was recognized by the
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation who awarded her the National Aboriginal Achievement Award inWinnipeg in March 2002. She received an honorary doctorate from theUniversity of British Columbia in May 2002.ources
* Macnair, Peter L., Alan L. Hoover, and Kevin Neary (1984) "The Legacy: Tradition and Innovation in Northwest Coast Indian Art." Vancouver, B.C.: Douglas & McIntyre.
* Stewart, Hilary (1993) "Looking at Totem Poles." Vancouver, B.C.: Douglas & McIntyre.External links
* [http://www.terracelibrary.ca/history1/lambly_pictures/1936flood.htm Biographical information, Terrace BC library]
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