RUSSELL WILLIAMS

		TALKING STICK The speaker or orator who has the right to make an important announcement uses the Talking Stick.  The stick is carved with crest figures and ornamented.  During the Potlatch Ceremony, this was a representation of the property to be given away.  By touching the stick, the guests formally indicated their acceptance of amount. The heralds who went from house to house to invite people to events carried other staffs, such as Gwispeck.
	Russell Williams  Thunderbird Talking Stick 68”L    Squamish Nation NWC 2002 027

 Russell Williams was born in August 1963 in the Squamish Nation village of Uslahan.  His mother is the renowned beadwork artist Cheryl Whiteagle.  Russell’s family is of the Coast Salish peoples, with their traditional crests of the wolf and bear.

Russell began carving wood at the young age of twelve with the guidance and inspiration of his Elders.  Through the years, he has developed his own incredibly detailed and unique style of Northwest Coast art, which is often admired by his peers.  Russell is a very talented artist and has created many beautifully crafted works such as masks, totem poles, plaques, figures, talking sticks, feast bowls and dance rattles. 

Russell intends to continue in his traditional cultural studies and hopes to pass on his learning to future generations. Appleton Galleries is fortunate to work with an artist of such high calibre.