A Canadian-born artist with Norse, Sámi and Slavic ancestry, artist Olav Roaldson works from a studio on the east shore of Kootenay Lake. Honouring the lives of the elders through his creations, he tells the stories of the ancient ones as guidance for future generations.

Expertly carved from a twenty-foot cedar log, Olav’s vibrant piece depicts Biegkegaellies, the Sámi god of the winter winds. Historically, the Sami people worshipped idols carved from wooden poles, often depicting their gods.