Mungo Martin

Mungo Martin, whose traditional chief's name was Nakapenkum ("Ten Times More than Other Tribes"), was born at Fort Rupert, Vancouver Island. Raised in traditional carving techniques by his stepfather Charlie James, Martin was a master sculpturer of monumental cedar totem poles, masks, and feast dishes during the decades when potlatches were officially outlawed.

In 1952, the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria hired Martin to direct its totem restoration program. In Thunderbird Park, Martin carved world-renowned replacement poles, constructed a traditional big house (Wawadit'la), and recorded hundreds of sacred ceremonial songs, mentoring younger carvers including Tony Hunt and Bill Reid.