Tim Paul was born in the town of Zaballos, which is situated on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Tim is a member of the Hesquiaht band of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation, located in the central region of the Tribal Council territory.

Tim grew up in a small village of eight families, on the northern end of Nootka Island. His great-grandfather, John Smith, often trapped salmon in a local stream. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans did not approve of John's fishing or his weir and removed it on three occasions. It was difficult for John Smith to abandon his traditional fishing ways.

Tim is a very spiritual person and knows many of the oral stories that have been passed down by his grandfathers. He uses his carvings and sculptures as a medium to pass on this information that is so important in his culture. Tim is dedicated to continuing the traditions of his society through the distribution of his artwork.

Tim has traveled around the world and performed Westcoast dances and songs with his troupe. He is very fascinated with other indigenous cultures from around the world.

Tim Paul apprenticed with Richard Hunt and Art Thompson as well as other Westcoast carvers. In 1977 he became Assistant Carver at the Royal British Columbia Museum's carving program at Thunderbird Park, and in 1984 he became the Senior Carver. He now works with a number of apprentices teaching Nuu-chah-nulth culture to the next generation.

Tim carves masks, rattles, bowls, canoes, sculptures and totem poles. He was selected to be the main carver for the Hesquiaht pole at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. His work can be found in numerous public and private collections worldwide. Tim has had work published in over 27 books and exhibition catalogues as well as numerous magazines.


Selected Collections:

Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Quebec
Captain Cook Museum, Middlesbrough, England
Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois
House of Humwitsa, Tofino, British Columbia
Interpretive Center at Yuquot
National Film Board, Hull, Quebec
Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, British Columbia
Southwest Museum, Los Angeles, California
Swedish Cultural House, The Ethnographic Museum, Stockholm, Sweden
The City of Auckland, New Zealand
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Windsor Great Park, Windsor, England
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, England


Chief Carver Projects:

Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Quebec
Commonwealth Games (1990), Auckland, New Zealand
Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, England