Tom Whonnock

Affiliation: Kwakwaka'wakw
Birth Place: Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Tom Whonnock was born in Alert Bay, located on Cormorant Island in British Columbia, and claims Sisiutl and Thunderbird as his family crest symbols. Tom began carving wood at the age of 16 and apprenticed under well-known artists Godfrey Hunt (Grandfather), George Bee (Uncle) and Larry Rosso.

Tom currently resides in Vancouver, carving on a full-time basis. He primarily creates plaques, bowls, and totem poles; however, has also received numerous commissions for large talking sticks. Tom is best known for the large number of carved and painted bent boxes for sale and display at Expo '86.