Native American Authors

Bill Reid
, 1920-1998

Haida

William Ronald “Bill” Reid wa a Haida sculptor and artist who collaborated on and illustrated many books about Native arts and traditions. He was born in Victoria, British Columbia on January 12, 1920 and attended school in Hyder on the Alaskan/Canadian border. He later studied at the Central School of Art and Design in London, England, and received an honorary doctorate from the University of British Columbia in 1976. He was a writer, artist, jeweller, totem carver and sculptor who was also active in environmental efforts in British Columbia.

Awards and Honors

Reid’s sculpture The Spirit of Haida Gwaii was honored with a Canadian stamp issued in April 1996.

Online resources by or about Bill Reid:

About the Craftsperson: Bill Reid
Author: Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
Type: authorbio
Description: Biographical information about Bill Reid and photos of the author and his works.

URL: http://www.civilization.ca/arts/bronfman/reid1e.html

Bill Reid
Author: First Nations Art
Type: authorbio
Description: An overview of Reid’s life, exhibitions, collections, and an extensive bibiography.

URL: http://collections.ic.gc.ca/artists/reid_bill.html

Bill Reid: Documentary
Author: National Film Board of Canada
Type: authorbio
Description: Information about a documentary on Haida author and artist Bill Reid; includes photos.

URL: http://www.onf.ca/FMT/E/MSN/13/13911.html

In Memoriam, Bill Reid
Author: Canadian Museum of Civilization
Type: authorbio
Description: An extension collection of information gathered by the Canadian Museum of Civilization to commemorate Reid’s death in 1998.

URL: http://www.civilization.ca/aborig/reid/reid01e.html

The Spirit of Haida Gwaii by Bill Reid
Author: Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C
Type: authorbio
Description: This page is devoted to the original bronze sculpture of Bill Reid’s Spirit of Haida Gwai, which is located at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

URL:

Books by Bill Reid:

Reid, Bill. Indian art of the Northwest coast : a dialogue on craftsmanship and aesthetics
Houston : Institute for the Arts, Rice University, 1976.
Genre: Nonfiction
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 0295955317

Reid, Bill. La legende Hahida du Grand Corbeau et des premiers hommes
Vancouver : Musee d’anthropologie de l’Universite de la Colombie-Britannique, 1989.
Genre: Folklore
Language: French
ISBN: 0888651155

Reid, Bill. The raven steals the light
Vancouver : Douglas & McIntyre, 1996.
Genre: Folklore
ISBN: 1550544810

Reid, Bill. Raven’s cry
Vancouver : Douglas & McIntyre, 1992.
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 1550540556

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