Klehw̓etua Rodney Sayers : ƛ̓uum̓aʔa is a Hupač̓asatḥ artist from Ahswinis, Port Alberni, and a descendant of the nuučaańuł peoples. His work bridges carving, contemporary sculpture, language revitalization, and cultural theory, forming a practice rooted in community teaching and grounded in the evolving nature of tradition.

Sayers’ formal training includes an associate’s degree in Studio Arts from Capilano College (1994), a BFA with Distinction from the Alberta College of Art and Design (1997), and an MFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (2000). At NSCAD, he studied jewellery and metals, woodworking, and cultural theory; served as Student Union President and Board of Governors member; and earned the prestigious Joseph Beuys Memorial Scholarship. His MFA thesis exhibition was featured in the first annual Halifax International Biennial, and in 2002 he received the ACAD Distinguished Alumni Award of Excellence.

After completing his studies, Sayers returned to Ahswinis, where his creative practice expanded into a deeply rooted cultural and linguistic journey. Over a decade, he worked intensively with elder fluent speakers to produce nuučaańuł language resources—including books, videos, a calendar, and community materials. This work profoundly informs his art, which is guided by the belief that language, identity, and visual storytelling are inseparable.

Sayers’ artwork explores the tension and harmony between tradition and contemporary expression. His sculptural and carving practices draw from ancestral teachings while intentionally engaging modern materials, conceptual frameworks, and collaborative modes. He believes that cultural art forms must evolve to remain alive: tradition is not static; it is a living, adaptive force.

His work has been exhibited across Canada and supported by grants from the Vancouver Foundation, BC Arts Council, First People’s Heritage Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts. His piece Creation Myth was featured in Paul Greenhalgh’s influential 2002 book The Persistence of Craft.

Sayers has completed several major public commissions, including:

– Lead carver on the Port Alberni welcome figures

– Three large installations created for the Hupač̓asatḥ House of Gathering

– A nine-foot carving presented to the Tseshaht First Nation for their government house opening

– Carvings represented in BC Hydro’s new Port Alberni green office

– A major collaborative sculpture with Hesquiaht artist Tim Paul for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, permanently installed at the Richmond speed skating oval

Sayers also maintains Search & Research, a long-running exploratory collaboration with artist Emily Luce.

Today, Klehw̓etua continues to live and work in Ahswinis, creating artwork rooted in Hupač̓asatḥ teachings, nuučaańuł ways of knowing, and a commitment to ensuring that traditional art remains vibrant, evolving, and culturally grounded.

“My work is guided by nuučaańuł teachings, language, and the belief that tradition is a living force. For our art forms to remain vibrant, they must evolve, adapt, and respond to the present while staying true to their origins. I work to honour the teachings of my community’s elder fluent speakers and to reflect how language and visual expression inform one another.”

Education

• MFA, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, 2000
  
• BFA with Distinction, Alberta College of Art and Design, 1997
  
• Associate Degree, Studio Arts, Capilano College, 1994
  

Selected Highlights

• Joseph Beuys Memorial Scholarship, NSCAD
  
• Distinguished Alumni Award of Excellence, ACAD (75th anniversary)
  
• MFA thesis included in Halifax International Biennial
  

Exhibitions & Grants

• Numerous solo and group exhibitions across Canada
  
• Grants from: Vancouver Foundation, BC Arts Council, First People’s Heritage Council, Canada Council for the Arts
  
• Work featured in The Persistence of Craft (Paul Greenhalgh, 2002)
  

Public Commissions

• Lead Carver: Port Alberni Welcome Figures
  
• Major Installations: Hupač̓asatḥ House of Gathering
  
• 9-foot carving for Tseshaht First Nation
  
• Carvings in BC Hydro Port Alberni office
  
• Collaborative sculpture with Tim Paul for 2010 Vancouver Olympics (Richmond Oval)
  

Community & Cultural Work

• Decade-long nuučaańuł language revitalization work with elder speakers
  
• Search & Research collaborative practice with Emily Luce