Mike is of the Nisga’a, Tlingit, and Tsimshian Nations. His Traditional name “Goothl Ts’imilx” which means: “The Heart of the Beaver Lodge”. He belongs to the Beaver / Eagle Clan. The traditional territory of the Nisga’a is the Nass River Valley area of British Columbia, which approximately 500 miles north from Vancouver.
Mike began learning his people’s ways at an early age by attending traditional feasts, ceremonies and gathering and preparing traditional foods with his mother “Mak hli t’aa” Arlene Roberts, and performing their family dance group. This page requires the (free) Flash Player plug-in
Video Transcript:
Hi my name is Mike Dangeli, I’m of the Nisga’a, Tlingit and Tsmishian Nations and my name is (his language) and from the house of (his language). I’ve kind of been doing art all my life and was really fortunate to spend so much time with my grandparents, who were some of my very first teachers. My grandmother was an artist and a weaver and did bead work; my mother as well. So it was something I’ve done off and on my entire life (end transcript.)
Always striving to understand & appreciate his people’s rich art form, he took the opportunity to study North West Coast Art through courses offered in his high school in Metlakatla, Alaska. After graduating in 1991, he went on to major in Alaska Native History at the University of Alaska Southeast. Mike held two major apprenticeships under Master Carvers: Randy Adams (Nisga’a), Prince Rupert, BC and David Boxley (Tsimshian), Kingston, Washington. Mike regularly returns home to Northern BC and Alaska where he continues to learn oral histories, songs, dances, and protocols from his Nisga’a, Tsimshian, and Tlingit elders. .
Mike currently lives in Vancouver, BC where he founded the House of Culture: Art and Carving Studio. The programs that he organized in the House of Culture sought a holistic approach to teaching Northwest Coast art to urban First Nations children, youth, and adults through classes, workshops and seminars. Working as primarily a commissioned based artist, the House of Culture also functions as Mike’s studio where he creates his art for his commissions, galleries, and ceremonial pieces for his community. Mike’s works include masks, drums, regalia, paintings, silk screened prints. In 2007, Mike completed his tenth totem pole and a thirty-foot ocean going canoe.
Mike is also an accomplished dancer & singer. He has been immersed in traditional dancing and singing since the age of five. Having had the honor of dancing with the Juneau Tsimshian Nisga’a Dancers, The Prince Rupert Nisga’a Dancers, The Tsimshian Haayuuk Dancers, the Git Hoan Dancers, and The Rainbow Creek Dancers. He also worked business manager and dance leader: The Lax Kaien Tsimshian Dancers.
Now, Mike shares the leadership of The Git Hayetsk Dancers with his Fiancé Mique’l Askren (Tsimshian). Their dance group reflects the diversity of the urban First Nations population of Vancouver. Its forty members bring together representatives of the Nisga’a, Tsimshian, Tlingit, Haida, Gitksan, and Haisla Nations. With this and previous group, Mike has performed, held lectures, workshops, and carving demonstration in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, British Columbia, Ontario, Austria, Malaysia, Germany and Japan.
Artist Statement:
“As a former History Major, I see practicing my Peoples Rich Art as a natural segue in continuing my study of history through Art.
My goal is to Educate and Represent, and as well to Promote our People. And to tell the world - We are not just objects in a museum we are Alive!”
