Tom Hans

Tom was born in 1925, in Skidegate on the Islands of Haida Gai, also known as the Queen Charlotte's. Tom's Haida name is Aye Aye.

Argillite is a precious stone that is only found on Haida land in the Queen Charlotte's. Thus, the Haida people are the only ones allowed to carve the argillite. Tom started to learn the art at an early age. He learned to carve by sitting alongside his father, Ike Hans. At 12 years of age Tom carved his first pole, which still sits in the owners house in Vancouver, BC. Each pole represents one of the Old Legends as told to Tom in his youth by his grandfather, Henry Young. Tom resides in Vancouver, BC and still carves the argillite poles, implementing a legend from the past into each one.