Charles Joseph, also known as Boone, is an artist and a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation. Based in Williams Lake, B.C., he has spent much of his life on Canada’s West Coast, creating totem poles, masks and canoes. Alongside his artwork, he supports his family through fishing and logging.
In November 2024, Joseph shared his life story and insights into his art during episode 29 of The Exchange w/ Erik Mora podcast. His art, which celebrates his Kwakwaka’wakw heritage, draws deeply from the teachings of his family — particularly his grandparents and great-grandparents — and the influence of other artists.
“My grandparents and great-grandparents were very cultural people,” he said on the podcast.
Joseph is a residential school survivor. During his time there, he said he experienced countless abuses, “too numerous to name.” After leaving residential school, he turned to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms. However, the guidance of his grandparents and great-grandparents gave him a chance to reconnect with his culture.
“I got lost for a while and then was really grateful to have a second chance in life,” he said. “To be able to see my great-grandparents still here in this world, and my grandparents, to continue teaching me […] what it was like to be cultural, how it made them feel […] I’m grateful that I’m able and allowed to be able to carve and speak my language.”
In recent years, Joseph has suffered personal loss, with many people in his life passing away. In January 2023, his wife, Frankie, died from liver failure. Just two weeks later, a fire destroyed his house and carving shed, leaving him and his children homeless. Much of his art was lost, as well as his tools and old artifacts from his family.
“I lost a lot of good art, and I lost all my tools, and a lot of old artifacts that I had from my great-grandparents […] that I never used anymore but held onto them just for the memories of how they were teaching me,” Joseph said.
To help Joseph rebuild, a GoFundMe campaign was organized by his friend, Dr. Jordan Peterson. As of January 2025, the fundraiser is still ongoing.
Amidst all the loss, Joseph has allowed himself time to grieve, so that he can continue his work. Each morning, he allows himself time to grieve before waking up his children. He often lights candles and smudges, while thinking about his lost loved ones. He said that by doing this, he can work without carrying any negative emotions and does not feel stuck in his grief.
Above all, it is Joseph’s children and family that keep him going.
“The love and the strength they have and how much they show it to me is what keeps me going every day,” Joseph said of his kids. “Waking up and seeing their big smiles, and saying, ‘love you dad, with all my heart,’ that’s what makes me feel good every day […] the power of seeing true love coming from them […] You show each other that kind of love and it gets shown back to you.”
Joseph’s work has gained international recognition, with pieces displayed worldwide. One of his creations — a totem honouring residential school survivors — was originally displayed in Montreal and is now installed at Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park. Even after 30 years of creating, art remains a passion for Joseph rather than a chore. “That’s why it’s still my hobby today, 30 years later,” he said. “You know, I love what I’m doing. I love it because it reminds me of when I was a young boy watching my dad and my grandfather […] enjoying their lives as an artist […] I found what I love to do and I stuck to it.”
For more about Charles Joseph’s art, visit charlesnativeart.ca. To listen to his podcast episode, visit The Exchange w/ Erik Mora. To support Joseph and his family, visit gofundme.com.