Kwakwee Baker comes by his work as an international multimedia artist honestly. He was born from seven generations of artists–carvers, weavers, painters, architects, and more. 

“When I think of design, it’s not just limited to drawing and painting. Design is in all things in life,” Kwakwee said. “I draw a lot of my own artistic inspiration from those things, like tree formations, clouds, and river patterns.”

Kwakwee, who has Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Kwaguilth, Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, Haida, and Tlingit ancestry, represents his diverse Indigenous heritage in much of his work – from murals and paintings to clothing.

He is also the proud owner of :z:films, which offers various video, graphic design, storytelling, and photography services from independent to corporate production.

“If you want to be a good artist, you can’t just limit yourself to one thing,” the filmmaker said.

Kwakwee studied film production at Capilano University and fine art at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design. In 2007, his film Ashamed Society won ‘Best Documentary’ at the North Shore Film Festival.

His advice for aspiring Indigenous filmmakers and artists?

“Research your particular artistry, find out about the competition, and see if there’s room for you. Learn about the new technology coming out and see if you can take advantage of that. If you’re going to be an artist, you need to diversify, and at times, collaborate or be mentored.”

To hire Kwakwee and :z:films for your upcoming event, project, or lacrosse game, email kwakwee107@gmail.com.