Bill Reid was one of Canada's great artists of the 20 th century.   His sculptures, jewellery and prints have facilitated a rebirth in Northwest Coast First Nations art and Haida imagery and history.   Throughout Reid's career he contributed his experience by supporting and mentoring a number of emerging First Nations artists.   While mainly known for his sculptural work, totem poles and jewellery, Reid also produced a sizable inventory of screen prints and wood cuts of traditional Haida animal imagery.

Bill Reid was born in Victoria, BC in 1920, his mother was of Haida heritage and his father an American of Scottish-German descent.   He studied jewellery making early in his career and went on to create a large body of work, including monumental public sculptures such as the Spirit of Haida Gwaii (The Jade Canoe) casting which is housed at the Vancouver International Airport and The Raven and the First Men at the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver.   He received numerous awards for his works as well as honorary degrees from many universities.   He died in 1998 and his ashes were returned to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands).