Joe Descoteaux

Originally from Ontario, Joe relocated to British Columbia in the 1980s, where he met his wife, Cheryl Wadhams. He began his artistic journey in the Northwest Coast style under the mentorship of Cheryl and her uncles, Don Dawson and Raymond Wadhams. After dedicating a year to woodcarving, Joe expanded his craft into jewelry making with the guidance of Lloyd Wadhams Jr. In 2007, he was honored with the traditional Dawson family name "Hilamas"—which translates to "he fixes things."