Self-taught cousins who grew up in 亚洲天堂 Lake 鈥� Albert and Ben Gerow 鈥� are using retirement as an opportunity to accomplish their lifetime dream of becoming artists.

You might have heard of Albert as 鈥淐hief Crazy Legs鈥� since he loved to dance as a young boy.

Albert is a member of Carrier Sekani First Nations. His mother was sent to a residential school when she was a child where she was not allowed to speak her language and was forced to deny her own traditions.

Consequently, Albert did not learn his traditional language, nor was able to understand the full scope of his traditions while growing up.

鈥淚鈥檝e always had that urge to learn about our ancestors and our cultural belief system,鈥� he said.

The urge to learn more about his ancestral roots led Albert to an exploration of his ancestors鈥� beliefs and stories through painting.

鈥淚 utilize animals and birds and fish that may have come from a particular cultural story,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭here are several different stories that were made to be used as teachings for children.鈥�

The stories that were passed from generation to generation teach lessons to children such as not to be greedy. Another old traditional belief was that First Nations had the ability to transform themselves into birds or other animals when necessary. Albert鈥檚 art translates that belief, mixing human parts with animals and animal parts with humans in his paintings.

He said most of his art expresses the traditional northwest Native art style. His work consists primarily of paintings with acrylic watercolour, and he is just starting to do some wood carving animal sculptures.

Although he currently lives in Victoria, B.C., Albert was born and raised in 亚洲天堂 Lake. He still has deep roots to the Lakes District since his two children and five grandchildren live in the area.

His involvement to 亚洲天堂 Lake is in fact quite extensive. Albert was elected to serve two terms as chief of the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band. He has also been elected as councillor for the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake, and as a school board trustee for School District No. 91 (Nechako Lakes). In addition, he has worked as an assistant human resources manager for Babine Forest Products, and as an instructor for the College of New Caledonia in 亚洲天堂 Lake. Some of the courses he taught included life skills, job search techniques and Native art.

Today Albert is semi-retired, still doing part-time work for the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band. When he is not working, Albert said he is fully dedicating himself to art and the discovery of his ancestral roots.

鈥淭he more I learn, the more I have a desire to learn more about our ancestral beliefs,鈥� he said.

You can check some of Albert鈥檚 work on his Facebook page at facebook.com/ChiefAlbertLGerow

Albert鈥檚 art work has some similarities to his cousin鈥檚 work.

Ben also tries to connect to his ancestral roots through his art. Although his drawings and paintings have a similar style to Albert鈥檚, Ben is known for carving life size sculptures of people and animals.

If you live in 亚洲天堂 Lake, you have probably seen many of Ben鈥檚 totems around town. Ben also carved the wooden sasquatch for the Rainbow Gas Bar in 亚洲天堂 Lake and the wooden bear for Woods N鈥� Water Outdoor Equipment Store.

He also he did a painting of the Hudson Bay packers. Although he claims the painting is not finished, it is currently displayed at Woods N鈥� Water.

Ben was born in Vanderhoof, but grew up in 亚洲天堂 Lake and Fort St. James. He is now in the process of moving from Terrace to 亚洲天堂 Lake.

The retired logger said he finally has plenty of time to devote to his lifetime passion.

鈥淓ver since I can remember I was drawing pictures,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the back of my mind, art was always what I wanted to do, but I wasted a lot of time.鈥�

As a teenager, Ben struggled with alcoholism. Consequently, he never completed primary school. After years of struggle he finally decided it was time to change his life around.

鈥淎fter I finished logging and sobered up, I went back to school.鈥�

Ben courageously got his grade 12 diploma later in life. At the age of 54, he received his bachelor of fine arts degree from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver.

鈥淏en has made an incredible life change with his artwork and he has really become a master carver,鈥� said his cousin Albert. 鈥淭he totems he did in 亚洲天堂 Lake are just amazing.鈥�

When Ben was in college, he also developed an interest for animation.

鈥淚t was amazing to see my art move,鈥� he said.

Ben said he loves to carve and paint outdoors so he can interact with the public.

The two cousins are currently exploring the possibility of creating art projects together.