15 Facts About Norman Tait

Norman Tait was a Nisga'a First Nations sculptor and totem pole carver from northwestern British Columbia, Canada.

Norman Tait was born in Kincolith on the Nass River in BC.

Norman Tait's father Josiah Tait, was a carver, and his great-grandfather was Chief Alfred Watson Mountain, Sganism Sim'oogit.

Norman Tait's brothers Alver Tait and Robert "Chip" Tait was an accomplished woodcarvers, as is his son Isaac.

Norman Tait attended residential school in Alberta and later completed high school in Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

When he began carving in 1970, Norman Tait sought out Nisga'a artifacts that he could study since there were no living Nisga'a master carvers for him to study.

Norman Tait worked with his father to raise the first Nisga'a totem pole in over 50 years.

Norman Tait later studied under the tutelage of the Haida carvers Freda Diesing and Gerry Marks.

Norman Tait carved The Story of Big Beaver totem pole, a 16.8-metre pole installed in 1982 at the entrance to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

In 1992, Norman Tait raised a totem in Bushy Park in London, England.

Norman Tait raised a totem pole to commemorate the opening of the Nisga'a Lisims Government building in New Aiyansh, BC, "Goothl Lisims", which translates as "the heart of the Nass".

Norman Tait has carved poles standing in Osaka, Japan, and Germany, as well as many private collections.

Norman Tait had a breakthrough in 1977 when the UBC Museum of Anthropology hosted a solo exhibit of 125 of his works.

Norman Tait was known for the realistic detailing of his sculptured carving, moon masks, two-dimensional doors, and jewellery.

Norman Tait began teaching Turner in 1991, and they subsequently collaborated on many carvings, including two major commissions for the Vancouver Stock Exchange.