Adam Louis, a member of the Nooksack Indian Tribe, hails from the town of Deming, Washington.
His late maternal grandmother is Sto:lo, and her language Halq’emeylem. His mother’s late father is from Nooksack, and they speak the Nooksack dialect of Shalishan. Adam’s late maternal grandmother, the family elder, possessed a large collection of Sxwayxwey masks.
Adam believes that to learn one’s culture and to respect the ways of its elders is crucial. He views his art as fulfilling his obligation to further his family’s legacy.
Since 2000, Adam has apprenticed and collaborated with Nuu-Chah-Nulth carver Joe David. The experience has cemented Adam’s connection to the inherent spirituality of Northwest Coast art.
Adam trusts that patience, endurance, courage, alertness, and a desire to make ancestors proud will help young First Nation artists truly embrace their beautiful cultures.