Joshua Prescott
Cree/Metis
Joshua was born in Victoria, B.C. in January 1982. His cultural origin is Cree/Metis from Manitoba, Saskatchewan areas. Joshua is currently living in Port Alberni B.C. with his wife and child.
Joshua graduated from Victoria High School. Victoria High teaches Native Art to many of the First Nation students who are interested.
From grade 9 through 12 Joshua was taught by Victor Newman, a Kwagiulth artist from Fort Rupert B.C. During this time Joshua also worked with his uncle Greg Prescott, also a Northwest Coast style wood carver. Joshua was awarded the graduation prize and highest honors as the outstanding native art student for the whole district in the year 2000. Victor Newman introduced Joshua to John Livingston with the hope Joshua would apprentice with him. Joshua has worked under the tutelage and as an assistant to John Livingston from 1999 to 2006. Joshua has worked for and with master Northwest Coast artists Calvin and Eugene Hunt, Peter Grant, Art Thompson, and Rande Cook.
Joshua excels in detail carving and painting. He prides himself on clean craftsmanship. He produces masks, drums, canoe paddles, bentwood boxes, and wall panels in red cedar, yellow cedar, yew, alder, and maple.
Joshua’s wife Eva has started a non profit organization called Nuu-Chah-Nulth Cultural Society. The goal of the non profit is to keep the Nuu-Chah-Nulth language alive. Joshua and Eva are currently learning the Nuu-Chah-Nulth language central dialect under Eva’s Nan, Katie Fraser of the Tla-O-Qui-Aht first nation. Katie has her masters in education and her undergrad in linguistics. Joshua feels it is important to teach the youth their culture. The language, the land, the art, the culture and the people are one.
Joshua would like to end with some words of Nuu-Chah-Nulth wisdom “Hishook ?ish Tswaak,” meaning Everything is one.