Panel depicting Wolf Moon, 2006
Moy Sutherland Jr., Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation
red cedar, cedar bark rope, operculum shell, abalone shell, pigment
41” high x 41” wide x 8” deep
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The Moon appears in the mythology of all Northwest Coast Nations as a guide, a protector, a guardian spirit, a timekeeper, and is associated with transformation. The Nuu-chah-nulth people from the West Coast of Vancouver Island revere the Moon and his wife, the Sun, as the most powerful beings, bringing good fortune and abundance.
The Nuu-Chah-Nulth year consists of thirteen Moons, rather than months. The Moon is frequently shown in association with Wolf, due to their nocturnal habits. The Nuu-Chah-Nulth operate with the rhythm of the seasons. After summer and autumn, the sacred time of winter begins. It is in this season that the life ceremony of the Nuu-Chah Nulth is revealed, the Tlukwana or Wolf Ritual. The ceremony coincides with the rising of the moon, as it is believed to be the time for spiritual connection and visiting the sacred.
In the Nuu-Chah-Nulth culture, a Lunar Eclipse is of great significance. It is believed that a giant, supernatural Codfish swallows the Moon, causing the sky to darken. To combat Codfish, the Peace Dance is performed. The dancers use pine tree bark to create smoke, forcing the Codfish to cough, thus opening its great mouth and releasing the Moon. Notice in the forehead of the moon a red figure, this is a reference to codfish.
Morris (Moy) Sutherland is from the village of Masayaht in Tofino, British Columbia. He is of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation. His Nuu-Chah-Nulth name is Hiish-Miik, which translates as someone who gets whatever they are after. His Coast Salish name is Chi-Outin or someone who helps. Born on January 4, 1974, he grew up steeped in his culture and its traditions. As a young man he worked in the forests of British Columbia where he always found strength and peace of mind. To this day, his culture remains his greatest source of inspiration.
In 1995, with encouragement from family and friends, Moy began his artistic career in Alert Bay, learning the principals of carving from the Kwa-kwakwala carver Joe Wilson. Upon mastering some basic techniques, he moved home to learn more about horizons. Over the period Moy has been carving, he has proven himself an intelligent and meticulous artist. Between the year 1997 and 2000, Moy worked with Victor and Carey Newman at the Blue Raven Gallery in Sooke BC.
Moy apprenticed with the renowned, award winning Nuu-chah-nulth artist Art Thompson until his passing away in 2002. With each new piece he is refining his personal style and expanding his artistic horizons.
Moy has the benefit of having learned from both Kwakiutl and Nuu-chah-nulth artists. He has used these experiences to broaden his understanding of all native art forms. Although he is very careful to stay within the traditional rules and values of his culture, he strives to find ways to set himself apart from other artists. He is exploring different media, such as gem setting in gold and silver, silkscreen prints, and larger works such as stone sculptures, totem poles and canoes. For Moy, art is very deeply rooted in his culture. He finds it both spiritually rewarding and educational.
Moy comes from a very traditionally rooted family where the Nuu-chah-nulth culture is a large part of everyday life. Aside from artwork, he is pursuing a degree in anthropology. Artwork and anthropology are natural interests for Moy, because both meet on a journey into the history of his people, a journey that will reach an ultimate destination when he discovers the essence of art and culture.
