Keane Tait

Background

About Keane Tait

Wal-aks Keane Tait, a prominent figure in the Nisga’a Traditional scene, and co-founder of Radiating Ravens Apparel, he is a Traditional Weaver. Keane was born in Terrace, BC. He comes from the House of Ax̱dii Wil Luu-G̱ooda of the Git-Wilt’uuts’kwhl Aks Clan of the Raven/Frog tribe among the Nisg̱a’a People; and currently resides in Vancouver/Ts’am̓iks. Keane Wal-aks is fluent in the Nisg̱a'a language and takes pride in learning other languages. From childhood he has been taught the traditional values of his culture and oral history of his people by his mom, many aunts and uncles, but above all by his late grandmother, Addie Tait and his late grandfather Tom Tait. Keane is an accomplished Gwiis Maakskw (lit. Wearing White) weaver. He started out learning Salish Weaving from the Musqueam weaver Debra Sparrow, and Wal'aks is now an accomplished Ravenstail (Gwiis Maakskw) Weaver. Twenty years of history has given Keane Tait a certain status as an innovator in the national cultural industry. Prior to him leading the Kwhlii Gibaygum Nisg̱a’a Traditional Dance group, along with his mom they were the co-founders of the Gitlaxdax Nisga’a Cultural Dancers – Terrace Nisg̱a’a Cultural Dancers, he was only 16 years of age when he started. The Kwhlii Gibaygum Nisg̱a'a are a dynamic, high energetic group of performers who incorporate the stories, songs & dances of their W̓ahlingigat (Ancestors) into contemporary performances. Every dance member, can trace their ancestry to the Nisg̱a’a, from Ksi-Lisims, the Nass River. The Kwhlii Gibaygum Nisga’a Traditional Dance group brings innovation and creativity to the table; we take our cultural and traditional roles very much to heart for our various performances whether for a conference or recreational audience.