"I am Rich LaValle and I have been signing my carvings with my surname for more than thirty years. I have been working in the tradition of our Northwest Coast Native Peoples for most of my career. I have been carving for the Tlingit for eight years. My ancestry is French-Canadian and Swedish. I never misrepresent my work as being Native American made and I will cease doing business with anyone who does.
"I am a Raven. My wife is a Killer Whale, and we are both Deishu Hit, Deisheetaan. The George family of Angoon adopted us into the Tlingit tribe in October 2000. My Tlingit name is Kut Daa Jaa Gu and my wife's Tlingit name is Shawat Googh.
"We are authorized to wear symbols of the Raven Cave, two headed raven, raven, killer whale, bull head, sockeye salmon, wood worm, daddy long legs spider, rat and North Star.
"We currently spend part of our time each year at our cabin on Killisnoo Island, which is part of the town of Angoon, Alaska.
"So now I am proud to be a Tlingit carver helping to keep the tradition healthy."
—Rich LaValle
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