Pat Calihou

Woodcarver and artisan Pat Calihou is passionate about connecting to his heritage and building the cultural footprints that that were hard to find when he was growing up. The Métis Nation of British Columbia has recognized Pat for his creative outreach and education in schools, communities, and correctional institutions, as well as his commitment to sharing Canadian Indigenous histories and revitalizing Métis culture.

Pat is a self-taught carver and artisan known for his carvings of Métis style paddles, canoes, and traditionally built Red River carts. In a 2019 collaboration with Parks Canada, he was commissioned to create a 43-foot-long wood replica of the York boats used by 1800’s Fur Trade voyageurs from the Hudson’s Bay Company. He took on this project to share Métis history with future generations and to honour his great-great-grandfather Michel Calihou, who was a riverboat pilot for the Hudson’s Bay Company in Edmonton, as well as building the vessels that carried furs and goods between trading posts and forts. In 2020, Pat’s York boat project became a permanent part of Fort Langley’s bateau collection.

Through his artwork, his stories and public presentations, Pat Calihou continues to engage and educate people about the history and importance of Métis culture.