Justin Sappier

[ WABANAKI ARTIST: 2021, 2022 ]

Justin Sappier is a Peskotomuhkati-Wolastoqey (Passamaquoddy-Maliseet) woodcarver who lives in Island View, New Brunswick. He uses his aboriginal arts and crafts, particularly woodcarving, to educate the world on Wabanaki (East Coast) aboriginal culture. Born in Perth Andover, but originally from the Passamaquoddy area, Justin carves to empower the local native culture and to bring it pride and recognition.

“I work with wood for the connection to Mother Earth. When I carve, the feel and the smell of the wood grounds me. The experience brings me closer to my roots and helps me understand the history of my people in a more personalized, experience-driven way. The ability of wood to be manipulated makes it a perfect medium to explore three-dimensional art. Being able to take a cut a log that would be thrown in a fire, and instead use it to create art is a way to reconnect our society with nature and to raise awareness of aboriginal history on the east coast.