Bill Reid was a renowned BC artist born in 1920 in Victoria to a European father and Haida mother. Two of his sculptures, Raven and the First Men and The Jade Canoe, The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, are featured on the Canadian $20 bill. The Jade Canoe sculpture depicts several Haida figures traveling together in a canoe, representing the skills and cooperation required for their historic mode of transportation.

1. Bill Reid
BC Artist

2. William (Bill) Ronald Reid
 January 12, 1920 – March 13, 1998
 Born in Victoria to a father of European descent and a mother from
the Raven/Wolf Clan of the Haida, one of the First Nations of the
Pacific Coast.

3. Art on Money
 Two of his sculptures, Raven and the First Men and The Jade
Canoe, The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, are prominently featured on the
CAD $20.00 bill.
 Can you find the two sculptures?

4. Raven and the First Man

5. The Jade Canoe, The Spirit of Haida
Gwaii
 One of the sculptures is called The Jade Canoe
 Where else have you seen it?

6. Do you remember seeing it now?

7. Wolf with eagle wing in his mouth

8. Bear paw in eagle’s mouth

9. Beaver working hard

10. “Ancient reluctant conscript”

11. Haida travelled in canoes
 They needed provisions such as water, food, blankets and more.
 Where did they store them?
 What skills and character traits does this type of travel require?
 How did they get along?
 Talk in your group about the problems of this type of travel

12. Who would you be in the Jade Canoe?
 Grizzly Bear-sitting at the bow staring toward Raven
 Bear Mother-Grizzly’s human wife
 One of the twin cubs-Good Bear (ears pointed forward) or Bad Bear (ears pointed back)
 Beaver-Raven’s uncle
 Raven with the oar-trickster
 Beaver with an oar
 Mouse woman-crouched under Raven’s tail
 Human Shaman in the middle
 Discuss in your group