Through mentorship, carving and music, a Cowichan artist is reconnecting with culture and crafting his own voice.
Aidan Thorne’s guitar is one of a kind. That’s because he carved it himself, with support from FPCC’s Arts Program. The funding supports B.C. First Nations creatives to strengthen their skills in any genre and pursue one-on-one arts mentorship opportunities. These activities strengthen ancestral teaching practices and transmit cultural knowledge. Funding from several FPCC grants has provided the singer-songwriter from Vancouver Island with opportunities to learn alongside his mentor, Coast Salish master carver Xwalacktun, and expand his music career.
Carving His Own Way
Art has always been a big part of Aidan’s life, and he’s used many different mediums to express himself over the years. He studied art in university, earning a BFA in Painting and Drawing from Concordia, and has been writing and performing original music since 2004.
While he has also explored weaving and beading, it is carving that “feels like home” to Aidan. He was first introduced to carving in high school and took to it immediately.
“I really loved carving right away,” Aidan says, “but I didn’t know any carvers who truly inspired me. When I met Xwalacktun years later, I finally began to learn a clear artistic language and I feel so at home learning my culture’s artistic traditions.”
Xwalacktun (Rick Harry) is a prolific Squamish and Kwakwaka’wakw sculptor and carver who has been carving since 1970 and has helped bring Coast Salish art onto the world stage. He has won numerous awards for his work and has more than 80 carvings displayed across B.C.
“I believe the main reason Xwalacktun creates art is because doing so gives him a deep sense of purpose,” Aidan says. “He knows that simply making art is a privilege and he is very generous with his knowledge.”
Aidan’s apprenticeship with Xwalacktun began in 2021 after he met the artist and ethnobotanist Tʼuyʼtʼtanat CeaseWyss. Wyss introduced the two and suggested Aidan apply for FPCC’s Individual Artists Grant to learn from the master carver and better connect with the art of his ancestors.
Aidan used the funding to improve his carving skills by helping Xwalacktun with various projects, while at the same time completing his own personal project: a mask entitled “The Good Sister.” The mask is a portrait of Aidan’s friend Lauren Michiko. Aidan describes it as “the piece that opened the door for me to Coast Salish Art.”
“Xwalacktun is the only mentor I was ever interested in apprenticing with,” Aidan says, “not because of his status, but because of his character. The moment I met him, I knew I would enjoy spending time with him. We have had so many good laughs, some deep conversations and he has helped me to improve my life and find pride for myself.”
Building on what he learned in his first project, Aidan set out to carve a 5-foot totem pole with an additional Arts grant from FPCC. The funding provided proper carving tools, allowing him to spend six months carving the red cedar pole on his traditional territory in Cobble Hill as well as at the Harmony Arts Festival in Vancouver.
Merging Form and Function
The idea to hand-carve and paint his own guitars came to Aidan shortly after his pole project was finished. He sought Xwalacktun’s guidance a third time, moving to Vancouver to be closer to his mentor. He received an Arts Strengthening Grant from FPCC to support the project.
In their time spent together, Aidan learned many things from his mentor, including how necessary it was to develop his own style.
“Having Xwalacktun’s mentorship meant learning how to use my tools and embrace the Coast Salish form,” says Aidan. “But he also always encouraged me to find my own style and develop my voice. When I’m too concerned about doing something wrong, he has told me on multiple occasions, ‘That’s ok, you gotta have your style.’”
Creating and Sharing with Others
More recently, Aidan is using his hand-carved instruments to record music for his first solo LP with the help of the Creation and Sharing option in FPCC’s Music Program. The funding gave Aidan the resources to invest in some essential music equipment, including a new microphone and a range of guitar pedals.
“The tools have significantly expanded my tonal palette and improved consistency in both live performance and recording,” Aidan says. “My previous setup was minimal, which limited sound control and clarity. With this new equipment, I have been able to refine my sound and really shape the sonic direction of the project.”
In addition to developing his sound, he also worked on songwriting and recorded a few rough demos to help guide the process. His album is due to be released on June 21, 2026, National Indigenous Peoples Day.
When asked for his thoughts about the benefits of funding for the arts, Aidan said:
“I think arts funding is just money well spent. It gives people a chance to connect with others and make themselves proud and find happiness – find meaning – and have the luxury of time, and be able to afford to do these things. It can be lifesaving, too. I think it just makes everyone – the whole community – healthier, overall.”
Aidan is thankful for where his artistic journey has led him, for the incredible gift of mentorship and that he gets to express himself while doing what he loves.
“I create art because it makes me happy,” Aidan says, “Creating things I am proud of allows me to find love for myself, which allows me to love others. I also believe the best way to empower your peers is to empower yourself and inspire others to do the same.”
You can check out Aidan’s artwork and music on his site aidanthorne.art.
About our Arts Program
FPCC’s Arts Program supports B.C. First Nations artists, communities and organizations working in both ancestral and contemporary arts by delivering grants, workshops and programs to positively impact creative sovereignty in their respective activities, knowledge transfer, training and professional development.
The Arts Program supports the creation, development, production, and promotion across all forms of creative expressions. FPCC’s Arts Program has been supported by the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation, Government of British Columbia through partnerships with the BC Arts Council, Creative BC and the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and a donation from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. Learn more at fpcc.ca/arts
You will find more stories about FPCC-supported artists here.
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