Metlakatla has lost a giant. The Haayk Foundation mourns the passing of Tsimshian carver, teacher, and lifelong member of Metlakatla Indian Community, Jack Hudson of the Laxgibuu (Wolf Clan). Our heartfelt condolences to his family.
He graciously allowed us to photograph his amazing basket collection for our Bilingual Basket Weaving Curriculum project.
The photo and information below is from his 2017 Community Spirit Award presentation:
Jack was born in the summer of 1936. He was one of seven children born to parents Doris Crookshank, a fiery red-headed Scottish lady, and John Hudson Sr. of Metlakatla.
In the 1960’s, Jack Hudson worked as a deckhand on a tugboat owned by Harvey Kolonan, who whittled funny little Indian-style carvings. This captured Jack’s imagination, because this was, after all, his own culture he was looking at.
During the long voyages between Seattle and Ketchikan, Jack learned what he could from Harvey, tried his own hand at carving, and his interest continued to grow. One day, Harvey said, “Hey Jack, if you really want to know about this stuff, go see Bill Holm.”
Bill Holm was a professor teaching Northwest Coast Art History at the University of Washington in Seattle. He let Jack audit his class for a couple years for free. Bill Holm really believed in Jack and encouraged him to learn more. In those days, there weren’t many places on earth to go to learn northwest coast art. So Jack went into collections of the museums to study the old pieces, to decipher the shapes and meanings of Tsimshian artifacts.
Jack’s career began at the beginning of the resurgence of northwest coast art. His contemporaries were other great carvers like Robert Davidson and Joe David.
In the earlier 1970’s, Jack restored the Pioneer Square Totem Pole in Seattle at the Pacific Science Center. He went on to carve several more Tsimshian totem poles of his own during that time.
In the Mid 70’s, Jack moved home to Metlakatla. For 37 years, he taught Tsimshian art to the students of the Annette Island School District. We’re not sure just how many students he taught, but we do know that in his last few years, he was teaching the grandchildren of his first students. He retired in 2011. That position is now filled by his son, John Hudson.
37 years of teaching is a long time. Along the way, not everyone understood the importance of the work he was doing. Over and over again, Jack fought to keep his program from being cut. His strength and tenacity, his passion to open our eyes to the beauty of our people’s work and the history that it represents, won the day. Thank goodness Jack was a fighter!
Jack’s work can be found around the world, from Japan to Denmark. But perhaps more importantly, the level of Metlakatla’s awareness of our own art form is remarkable, the credit for this phenomenon lies with Jack Hudson.
When he was asked about his abilities, Jack said, “If you want to see my work, see what I can do - look at my students’ work.”
This quote is very telling of the kind of man that he was. Jack was a carver, business man and entrepreneur, but for his entire career, Jack was an educator. His lessons could be tough, but Jack always strived for the highest quality for his own work and he expected the same of all his students.
Hagwil yaan, Jack.
He graciously allowed us to photograph his amazing basket collection for our Bilingual Basket Weaving Curriculum project.
The photo and information below is from his 2017 Community Spirit Award presentation:
Jack was born in the summer of 1936. He was one of seven children born to parents Doris Crookshank, a fiery red-headed Scottish lady, and John Hudson Sr. of Metlakatla.
In the 1960’s, Jack Hudson worked as a deckhand on a tugboat owned by Harvey Kolonan, who whittled funny little Indian-style carvings. This captured Jack’s imagination, because this was, after all, his own culture he was looking at.
During the long voyages between Seattle and Ketchikan, Jack learned what he could from Harvey, tried his own hand at carving, and his interest continued to grow. One day, Harvey said, “Hey Jack, if you really want to know about this stuff, go see Bill Holm.”
Bill Holm was a professor teaching Northwest Coast Art History at the University of Washington in Seattle. He let Jack audit his class for a couple years for free. Bill Holm really believed in Jack and encouraged him to learn more. In those days, there weren’t many places on earth to go to learn northwest coast art. So Jack went into collections of the museums to study the old pieces, to decipher the shapes and meanings of Tsimshian artifacts.
Jack’s career began at the beginning of the resurgence of northwest coast art. His contemporaries were other great carvers like Robert Davidson and Joe David.
In the earlier 1970’s, Jack restored the Pioneer Square Totem Pole in Seattle at the Pacific Science Center. He went on to carve several more Tsimshian totem poles of his own during that time.
In the Mid 70’s, Jack moved home to Metlakatla. For 37 years, he taught Tsimshian art to the students of the Annette Island School District. We’re not sure just how many students he taught, but we do know that in his last few years, he was teaching the grandchildren of his first students. He retired in 2011. That position is now filled by his son, John Hudson.
37 years of teaching is a long time. Along the way, not everyone understood the importance of the work he was doing. Over and over again, Jack fought to keep his program from being cut. His strength and tenacity, his passion to open our eyes to the beauty of our people’s work and the history that it represents, won the day. Thank goodness Jack was a fighter!
Jack’s work can be found around the world, from Japan to Denmark. But perhaps more importantly, the level of Metlakatla’s awareness of our own art form is remarkable, the credit for this phenomenon lies with Jack Hudson.
When he was asked about his abilities, Jack said, “If you want to see my work, see what I can do - look at my students’ work.”
This quote is very telling of the kind of man that he was. Jack was a carver, business man and entrepreneur, but for his entire career, Jack was an educator. His lessons could be tough, but Jack always strived for the highest quality for his own work and he expected the same of all his students.
Hagwil yaan, Jack.
Metlakatla has lost a giant. The Haayk Foundation mourns the passing of Tsimshian carver, teacher, and lifelong member of Metlakatla Indian Community, Jack Hudson of the Laxgibuu (Wolf Clan). Our heartfelt condolences to his family.
He graciously allowed us to photograph his amazing basket collection for our Bilingual Basket Weaving Curriculum project.
The photo and information below is from his 2017 Community Spirit Award presentation:
Jack was born in the summer of 1936. He was one of seven children born to parents Doris Crookshank, a fiery red-headed Scottish lady, and John Hudson Sr. of Metlakatla.
In the 1960’s, Jack Hudson worked as a deckhand on a tugboat owned by Harvey Kolonan, who whittled funny little Indian-style carvings. This captured Jack’s imagination, because this was, after all, his own culture he was looking at.
During the long voyages between Seattle and Ketchikan, Jack learned what he could from Harvey, tried his own hand at carving, and his interest continued to grow. One day, Harvey said, “Hey Jack, if you really want to know about this stuff, go see Bill Holm.”
Bill Holm was a professor teaching Northwest Coast Art History at the University of Washington in Seattle. He let Jack audit his class for a couple years for free. Bill Holm really believed in Jack and encouraged him to learn more. In those days, there weren’t many places on earth to go to learn northwest coast art. So Jack went into collections of the museums to study the old pieces, to decipher the shapes and meanings of Tsimshian artifacts.
Jack’s career began at the beginning of the resurgence of northwest coast art. His contemporaries were other great carvers like Robert Davidson and Joe David.
In the earlier 1970’s, Jack restored the Pioneer Square Totem Pole in Seattle at the Pacific Science Center. He went on to carve several more Tsimshian totem poles of his own during that time.
In the Mid 70’s, Jack moved home to Metlakatla. For 37 years, he taught Tsimshian art to the students of the Annette Island School District. We’re not sure just how many students he taught, but we do know that in his last few years, he was teaching the grandchildren of his first students. He retired in 2011. That position is now filled by his son, John Hudson.
37 years of teaching is a long time. Along the way, not everyone understood the importance of the work he was doing. Over and over again, Jack fought to keep his program from being cut. His strength and tenacity, his passion to open our eyes to the beauty of our people’s work and the history that it represents, won the day. Thank goodness Jack was a fighter!
Jack’s work can be found around the world, from Japan to Denmark. But perhaps more importantly, the level of Metlakatla’s awareness of our own art form is remarkable, the credit for this phenomenon lies with Jack Hudson.
When he was asked about his abilities, Jack said, “If you want to see my work, see what I can do - look at my students’ work.”
This quote is very telling of the kind of man that he was. Jack was a carver, business man and entrepreneur, but for his entire career, Jack was an educator. His lessons could be tough, but Jack always strived for the highest quality for his own work and he expected the same of all his students.
Hagwil yaan, Jack.
He graciously allowed us to photograph his amazing basket collection for our Bilingual Basket Weaving Curriculum project.
The photo and information below is from his 2017 Community Spirit Award presentation:
Jack was born in the summer of 1936. He was one of seven children born to parents Doris Crookshank, a fiery red-headed Scottish lady, and John Hudson Sr. of Metlakatla.
In the 1960’s, Jack Hudson worked as a deckhand on a tugboat owned by Harvey Kolonan, who whittled funny little Indian-style carvings. This captured Jack’s imagination, because this was, after all, his own culture he was looking at.
During the long voyages between Seattle and Ketchikan, Jack learned what he could from Harvey, tried his own hand at carving, and his interest continued to grow. One day, Harvey said, “Hey Jack, if you really want to know about this stuff, go see Bill Holm.”
Bill Holm was a professor teaching Northwest Coast Art History at the University of Washington in Seattle. He let Jack audit his class for a couple years for free. Bill Holm really believed in Jack and encouraged him to learn more. In those days, there weren’t many places on earth to go to learn northwest coast art. So Jack went into collections of the museums to study the old pieces, to decipher the shapes and meanings of Tsimshian artifacts.
Jack’s career began at the beginning of the resurgence of northwest coast art. His contemporaries were other great carvers like Robert Davidson and Joe David.
In the earlier 1970’s, Jack restored the Pioneer Square Totem Pole in Seattle at the Pacific Science Center. He went on to carve several more Tsimshian totem poles of his own during that time.
In the Mid 70’s, Jack moved home to Metlakatla. For 37 years, he taught Tsimshian art to the students of the Annette Island School District. We’re not sure just how many students he taught, but we do know that in his last few years, he was teaching the grandchildren of his first students. He retired in 2011. That position is now filled by his son, John Hudson.
37 years of teaching is a long time. Along the way, not everyone understood the importance of the work he was doing. Over and over again, Jack fought to keep his program from being cut. His strength and tenacity, his passion to open our eyes to the beauty of our people’s work and the history that it represents, won the day. Thank goodness Jack was a fighter!
Jack’s work can be found around the world, from Japan to Denmark. But perhaps more importantly, the level of Metlakatla’s awareness of our own art form is remarkable, the credit for this phenomenon lies with Jack Hudson.
When he was asked about his abilities, Jack said, “If you want to see my work, see what I can do - look at my students’ work.”
This quote is very telling of the kind of man that he was. Jack was a carver, business man and entrepreneur, but for his entire career, Jack was an educator. His lessons could be tough, but Jack always strived for the highest quality for his own work and he expected the same of all his students.
Hagwil yaan, Jack.
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