Tim Paul

Tim Paul (born 1950) is a member of the Hesquiaht tribe from the Nuu-Chah-Nulth first nation. He is a master carver from Esperanza Inlet, British Columbia, Canada. when he left to oversee an indigenous education program for the Port Alberni school board on Vancouver Island.

Early life Tim Paul was born in Esperanza Inlet. At the age of 11 he was suspected to have contracted tuberculosis and was sent to the Nanaimo Indian Hospital for treatment. While at the hospital he met a man who carved model totem poles. The man gave him a small carving knife and a piece of cedar and that is when he created his first carving. Recognizing the importance of language and the oral stories of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth people many of his carvings are created to honor the themes of language and story.

Career In 1975, Paul began carving at the Arts of the Raven Studio in Victoria, B.C. He learned under the direction of Ben Andrews and John Livingston. In 1977 he became an assistant carver to Richard Hunt at Thunderbird Park at the Royal British Columbia Museum. Seven years later he was the first carver from outside of the Hunt family to become a senior carver. He worked at Thunderbird Park until 1992, when he left to develop the indigenous education curriculum for the Port Alberni school board.

While working at Thunderbird Park he accepted commissions for many high-profile totem poles. His work can be seen at the Great Hall of the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec and in Auckland, New Zealand as a presentation to commemorate the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

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