Gisday’way, also known as Dr. Alfred Joseph, was a Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief, cultural leader, and artist. [1] Along with Earl Muldoe (Gitxsan, 1936-2022)/Chief Delgamuukw, he and Joseph were “actually two petitioners who represented more than 50 Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs who filed a statement of claim against BC and Canada in 1984, and began one of the longest trials in Canadian history – 374 days and accumulated a 26,000-page transcript… [resulting in] the foundational Supreme Court of Canada ruling that recognized and affirmed Aboriginal rights, title to Aboriginal lands and the duty to consult.” [2]

Like Muldoe, Joseph was a Northwest Coast artist who was formally trained at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Art (‘Ksan) in Hazelton, British Columbia. Joseph’s work is fairly rare today, as Joseph’s attention turned more toward politics, education, and his role as a Hereditary Chief after the Delgamuukw case. This bentwood box is a fine example of his 1970s artwork, reflecting his ‘Ksan training, and features a Raven head on the facing side with what appears to be stylized Killer Whale dorsal fins in repeating patterns on the other three panels. The formline is rendered in customary red and black and the box retains its original lid.

1. There is a ton more information on this important First Nations artist and leader online.

2. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. 05 May 2014. Delgamuukw and Gisday’way - Who Are They? https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/delgamuukw-and-gisdayway-who-are-they. Accessed 24 August 2026.