Tim Paul

Timothy Paul, Heshquiaht First Nation, Nuuchahnulth

Date born: 1950

Tim is a master carver and accomplished artist, and an integral part of the cultural fabric of Nuuchahnulth. He is an activist, artistic collaborator, cultural knowledge keeper and holder, and environmentalist. Tim’s father’s name is Timothy Sr., from Homis, ʔayʔiłtaqumł house. He was the root of the whole Amos family. Tim Sr.’s parents were Adolf Amos and Elizabeth Paul. Tim Paul’s mother was Josephine Smith. Her parents were Joe Smith and Esther Smith.

Tim spent a lot of time with his grandmother Esther growing up. She was a well-cultured woman who injected her grandson Tim with the love and energy of the ancestors. She did this through various means, including feeding him mouth to mouth, sleeping beside and holding him, and humming and singing in his ear. She put herself into him. This was an important preparation in his upbringing for what he was to become.

Tim spent his first 8 years of school at Christie Residential School. His last two years of school were at Mission Residential School.

Early in life, Tim got acquainted with many artists and elders and worked with their guidance and developed his skills. Tim had a strong relationship with the late Moses Smith, who imparted strong cultural guidance and knowledge. When Tim worked on figures, when the faces were almost done, Moses told him “you can talk to them now, Timmer, they are ready to come to life”. With this practice of putting himself into his works, much the same way his grandma Esther put herself into him, Tim gained a special reputation for carving faces that are alive. Tim is conscientious to create from his mułmumc, or roots, for there to be power in his pieces.

Among his many works, five years ago, Tim worked with Tsilhqot’in indigenous leaders to make a pole as a gift, to show solidarity and sovereignty in the Chilcotin region when the nation was declaring Tribal Parks in their homelands. This was at a time when a major mining company was threatening the life of Fish lake in their territory. The pole stands today as a representation of creation and the struggle to protect salmon and preserve rivers. The gift of this pole speaks to the depth of Tim's artistry in building alliances and the important Nuuchahnulth practice of giving wholeheartedly.

With his work carving totems and being involved with culture and art, Tim has travelled extensively. He spent time in New Zealand, France, England and Sweden. Tim worked with John Livingston for approximately 45 years. This man helped give him direction in his work. Tim also carved and worked with Richard Hunt. Tim completed some major projects for Captain Cook Museum. Among Tim's artistic accomplishments he has also had three solo shows.

Tim sought out time with elders and teachers to record some of their cultural and Nuuchahnulth linguistic knowledge such as late Moses Smith and Carrie Mickey. He felt compelled to do so as the impacts of colonization make the cultural knowledge and language rarer and more precious to hold on to not only for himself but for our community, with whom he has shared it. The gift of these recordings, aside from the knowledge in them, is the undeniable warmth between the interviewer and interviewee.

A huge part of Tim’s life has been his partnership with Monica Paul. They have been married for 46 years and together for 50. This has been a stronghold of love, support and flourishing over the span of 5 decades. Monica was by his side whenever she could be during his work, being his strongest supporter. Tim tributes Monica with being the one to guide him in doing and saying the right things. She is a testament to maʔiłpatu, the teaching that everyone in the family is a treasure to be taken care of. 

Written by Tsimka Martin, 2019