Yuxwelupton Qwal’ qaxala (Bradley Dick), is of lək̓ wəŋən, Mamalilikulla and Ditidaht ancestry. Bradley is married to Jennifer Chuckry and has three beautiful children Shayla (and granddaughter Kaydence aka Granny), Dakota, and Cienna. All are of Cree ancestry. He also has an Australian Shepherd, Cy the family guy. Bradley is a contemporary artist who enjoys working collaboratively with his brothers Clarence Dick Jr. and Fabian Quocksister, and his dad Butch Dick, carving ceremonial poles that adorn City Hall in Victoria and the Songhees Wellness Centre. Bradley’s career of  commissioned art spans over 20 years. His artwork can be seen as far away as New Zealand, England, Norway, and Sweden. He has sold numerous drums and carving locally, focusing on designs based on his family teachings and culture. He also creates original paintings, small and large carvings, and contemporary designs on shoes and hats. His collaborative paintings with his wife Jennifer reflect her Cree ancestry as well as Bradley’s West Coast influences. These works have been sold privately throughout Vancouver Island and Bradley is sure there will be more works to come.

Bradley Dick participated in the Visiting Artist Program in 2021.

Lekwungen (place to smoke herring people)  (Exhibition Installation Image to Come)

Lekwung (smoked herring) were a staple diet of the Lekwungen (place to smoke herring people). Not only were the fish a viable food resource, they were also used in economic trade.

This work honours the roots of my father’s ancestry.

Sul’Sila (Great-Grandmother) (Exhibition Installation Image to Come)

Sul’Sila came from a whaling culture and I wanted to honour these family roots that have existed since time immemorial.

This work honours the roots of my father’s ancestry and connections to the Ditidaht.

Picking Up The Pieces (Exhibition Installation Image to Come)

Many of our Indigenous families have been intergenerationally disconnected from our homelands in one way or another. With resilience and determination we can repatriate our old ways.

Wexes (Exhibition Installation Image to Come)

Frogs play an integral part in our seasonal calendar. When the frogs go into hibernation, we know our dance season will begin. When they come out of hibernation during the spring that is when we know our dance season will end.

Tsey’yew’tsus (the ability to see in both hands) (Exhibition Installation Image to Come)

The wexes (frog) has the ability to be in two worlds: the underground world and the above. It is believed this ability to live in two places offered the frog specific teachings about the relationship between, water and these two worlds.

Then (Exhibition Installation Image to Come)

This piece acknowledges the beauty of our old ways, which included the wearing of cedar bark for both practical and ceremonial purposes. This recognition of cedar apparel honours the beauty of our west coast ancestors.

Now (Exhibition Installation Image to Come)

This piece honours the roots of my mother’s side of the family, Klakwatsi who were Da’naxda’xw, Tzadsis Nugwame (New Vancouver), part of the greater Kwakwa’ka’wakw peoples.

The two works, Then and Now, are a reflection on the blankets worn by my ancestors during pre-contact times to those we wear today, which have been influenced by colonialism.