Christian White has titled this piece Sǥaan or Supernatural Being, referring not to one particular story but the many stories where the natural and supernatural worlds interconnect. The Haida were exceptional ocean travelers and navigated some of the most treacherous waterways in the world – traveling great distances for trade, ceremony and warfare. There are many stories of encounters with the real and supernatural creatures of the sea – ones that dictated adverse weather, tides, currents, and giant swells – smashing canoes and transforming humans into sea creatures. One of the most classic stories is of Nanasimigat and the Whale: a killer whale becomes infatuated with a human and lures her into the undersea kingdom. Her rescue is dictated by Kugann Jaad (Mouse Woman), who often provides knowledge of the supernatural world to humans to help balance the scales.

Christian White is one of Canada’s most celebrated artists. It was obvious from a young age that he was a gifted carver; a collection of his carvings – all produced before turning twenty – was donated to the Saahlinda Naay Haida Museum in Skidegate, and a Raven Dancer sculpture carved when he was twenty-one was acquired for the permanent collection of the UBC Museum of Anthropology. His pieces are defined by elaborate use of inlays and narrative depictions of Haida myths that capture a specific moment in the story. In this sculpture, the female figure is riding on the arched back of the killer whale, clinging to the exaggerated dorsal fin as it is about to plunge to the ocean depths, merging together the lives of creatures from two distinct worlds. White’s sculptures are meant to be experienced both in the hand, understanding the tactile decisions made by the artist, and visually, with many carved details such as the human face in the blow hole and a few carefully placed inlays of catlinite to add to the visual experience.

White’s work is included in many museum and private collections. He continues to live in Haida Gwaii and contributes to the cultural fabric of the Haida, including producing totem poles, canoes, and a ceremonial longhouse. In January of 2025, The Bill Reid Gallery in Vancouver will open the first retrospective exhibition of his art with an accompanying catalogue. This exhibition will be the first opportunity to see a larger collection of his work, and the first time that the Haida will have the opportunity to see a full collection by one of their master artists.