Luke Marston’s pride in his Coast Salish culture is carved deep in his art.
Now Marston’s art will grace the face of Vancouver Canucks goalie Braden Holtby, in the form of a newly finished mask that the Stz’uminus man has just painted.
“Doing this mask is a way more contemporary landscape than I’ve ever been in,” said Marston, who is a member of the Stz’umius First Nation.
The newly designed mask comes following a controversy last month when Holtby unveiled a Coast Salish-inspired Thunderbird mask that was designed by David Gunnarsson, a non-Indigenous artist from Sweden.
Gunnarsson did not have consent to use the Indigenous design and critics called it cultural appropriation.
Holtby, who signed with the Canucks in October, apologized.
But Marston said he saw it as a teachable moment and reached out to Canucks ownership offering to do real Coast Salish art for a mask free of charge.
“That’s the reason that I wanted to reach out was because I knew that I could help and do Coast Salish design on it and switch the narrative around,” he said.
It’s a gesture of real-life reconciliation that the 44-year-old father of two said he feels really good about.
“Some people believe [reconciliation] can happen. Other people don’t,” said Marston. “But I believe on a person to person level it can.”
Marston’s Stz’uminus First Nation is proud of what he’s made happen.
“It brings great pride to me as a Stz’uminus member, as the Stz’uminus Chief,” said chief Roxanne Harris of the Stz’uminus First Nation.
“I really am proud of all of our members for how we uplift each other and how proud we are if one succeeds we all succeed,” she said.
Now that the NHL season has started, Marston’s watching for the mask, that depicts the Coast Salish legend of the seawolf. On the hunt, just as the Canucks are.
As of Monday, the mask was now being outfitted with padding and expected to make its debut next week. When Marston hopes it will be a good luck charm for his team and a new beginning that’s needed.
Braden Holtby’s newest mask was designed by Vancouver Island Indigenous artist Luke Marston. (CBC)
With files from CBC
Skye Ryan
