Don Yeomans

Don Yeomans is one of the most respected and renowned Northwest Coast Native artists. Born of a Masset Haida father and a Metis mother from Slave Lake, Alberta, Yeomans has studied and worked in the Haida Style since he was a youth.

As a young man, Yeomans apprenticed under the expert guidance of his aunt, Freda Diesing. He worked with Robert Davidson on the Charles Edenshaw Memorial Longhouse and completed a jewelry apprentice with Phil Janze. Yeomans has also studied fine art at Langara College in Vancouver.

Don Yeomans crafts his artworks in many materials: he creates exquisite jewelry pieces in gold and silver, paints elegant Haida designs on paper, produces outstanding prints and is one of the finest carvers.

His work can be found in the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology, the Royal British Columbia Museum, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and the Seattle Art Museum.

		In true Haida tradition, this pole tells the story of why there are no more Beaver on the Queen Charlotte Islands.
		Everyone knew that Beaver was the best fisherman and always caught the plumpest, pinkest salmon, but nobody knew where he kept his catch. Beaver had a secrete lake somewhere on the Islands where he hid all of the finest salmon. Now Raven was naturally curious and the fact that Beaver had a secret hiding place bothered him to no end, so he came upon a plan to trick Beaver out of his salmon. Using his powers to shape-shift, Raven transformed himself into the likeness of an old man. He went to Beaver and told him that he was starving and asked if Beaver would show him where he kept his fine salmon. At first Beaver refused, but Raven begged again saying that he was only an old man and couldn’t eat very much. At last Beaver felt sorry for the old man and showed him where his secret lake was. Raven changed back into his old form and, before Beaver could do anything, rolled up the lake like a rug and flew away with all of Beavers salmon. Beaver became very angry, and tried to run after Raven, But Raven was too fast and flew off into the distance. Beaver left the Islands in search of Raven and all the salmon, and that’s why there are no more beaver on the Queen Charlotte Islands

	In Haida art, human faces are sometimes placed in the tails of certain animals. This symbolizes that the animal is actually a spirit with the ability to shape-shift or change its bodily form. Such faces are evident on this totem pole in both the Ravens tail (as seen in this photo) and the Beavers tail as it curls up from between his legs

"Raven" by Don Yeomans (Haida)

"Frogs" buy this at black tusk gallery

Abstract Panel
Don Yeomans (Haida)

Hand carved and painted red cedar
36" diameter
$6,500. (CDN) 
approx. $5,330. (US)

Buy this at Douglas Reynolds