Shane Perley-Dutcher

Shane Perley-Dutcher is a Wolastoq mixed media artist from Neqotkuk First Nation. From a young age, art and creativity have been his passion. Shane has been mentored over the years by elders and artists from various Indigenous communities, including learning to weave from renowned basket maker Veronica Atwin from Bilijk First Nation.  

He uses traditional materials such as birch, cedar, spruce, ash, copper, silver, gold and platinum in his art to maintain his connection to the land and fuel his creative process. As the proud creator of Aduksis Jewellery Designs, he specializes in custom and intricate jewellery, one- of- a- kind sculptures, and basket-weaving.  

Shane has turned to the use of metal in his basket-weaving, showcasing the intricacy and flexibility of his skills as he pioneers the art form.

He implies the term “reweaving” as a process of unlearning and then relearning many facets of his own identity and history. He repairs the metaphorical gaps by listening and learning from elders to better align his sense of self as Skicinuwok (a Native person). 

 He draws his design inspiration from Wolastoqiyik traditional knowledge and contemporary aesthetics, inspired by his years of experience working with talented Indigenous artists.   Honoring traditional Indigenous techniques and fusing them with modern design is Shane’s way to keep  Wolastoqiyik traditional knowledge alive for generations to come. 

“I love the the coming up with an idea and going through that, the process of, of, drawing it down and working with the materials and finding a way to make your ideas into something physical, concrete in front of you.”