Joe Martin has been dedicated to mastering the art of traditional ƛaʔuukʷiatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) canoe carving for decades. He has sparked a revitalization of this ancient artform in his own community and among neighbouring nations in the Pacific Northwest. Taught by his father, the late Chief Robert Martin, Joe has continued to transfer his knowledge to future generations, taking on apprentices and leaving a legacy of over 70 carved canoes.
Joe is well-known in the Nuu-chah-nulth area for the beauty and quality of his canoes that can be found in the waterways surrounding Vancouver Island. They can be found in villages throughout coastal British Columbia, as well as in museums and cultural displays in Canada and Europe.
His work has been the subject of many documentaries and articles about the west coast region. Joe’s work is rarely solitary. At the request of his local community or neighbouring nations he leads cultural immersion camps, carving workshops, and provides one-on-one mentorship. As an ambassador for Clayoquot Sound and the traditions of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Joe has travelled to seven countries to promote cross-cultural understanding and educate people on First Nations worldviews and natural histories. Joe has been formally recognized for his incredible contributions to the artistic community - in 2013 he received a BC Creative Achievement Awards for First Nations’ Art and in 2012 he received a BC Community Achievement Award. He has been serving as elected Tla-o-qui-aht Councillor, since 2018, and has recently joined the newly formed Tla-o-qui-aht Repatriation Committee, funded by the Royal BC Museum.
