The Sacred Hands: Kevin "Wa lee hub" Paul and the Continuum of Coast Salish Tradition
In the serene landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, where cedar forests meet the shimmering waters of Puget Sound, Kevin "Wa lee hub" Paul stands as a monumental figure in contemporary Coast Salish artistic expression. Born in 1960 and having spent his 
entire life within the embrace of the Swinomish community, Paul represents the living embodiment of cultural preservation through artistic practice —a journey that began shortly after his graduation from La Conner High School in 1979 and subsequent studies at Skagit Valley College.
Paul's artistic lineage flows through familial channels, his father and uncle both being master carvers who initiated him into the sacred visual language of Coast Salish tradition during his formative years. This inheritance manifests in his masterful manipulation of western red cedar, yellow cedar, alder, and pine—materials that connect his practice to the land itself. His artistic vision found commercial expression in 1989 with the establishment of K Paul Carvings, which evolved from his earlier enterprise, Eagle Star Indian Arts and Crafts, once situated on Front Street in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.
The cultural significance of Paul's work transcends mere aesthetic appreciation. As a tribal elder of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, his artistic practice becomes an act of cultural stewardship. Since 1994, his position teaching Northwest Wood Carving in the La Conner School District has transformed him into a crucial conduit between generations—precisely the role that enabled him to identify and nurture the talents of Nakiya and Nakesha Edwards.
Paul's versatility as an artist reveals itself through his mastery of multiple Indigenous stylistic traditions beyond Coast Salish, including Gitksan, Tlingit, Haida, and Kwakiutl—demonstrating both technical virtuosity and profound respect for the broader Indigenous artistic tapestry of the Pacific Northwest. His work has achieved international recognition, appearing on television programs such as 'Totem Design' on the Discovery Channel, which aired in 27 countries between 1998 and 2001, and being featured on Japan's public television.
The spiritual dimension of Paul's artistic practice emerges in his reflections on the creative process. "Having the ability to carve is truly a gift. Carving relaxes my spirit; it's kind of like meditation," he has noted, adding with characteristic humility, "I work from my heart." This ethos echoes ancestral wisdom passed through generations: "My grandmother taught me that where there is love, that is your best work," Paul once reflected.
Beyond his visual artistic practice, Paul embodies cultural continuity through sound as well, serving as Keeper of the drum and lead singer of the Skagit Valley Singers. His performances as "the skilled drummer" at local gatherings have become an integral element of community cultural expression.
Paul's work now adorns significant cultural spaces, including the Carver's Café at Swinomish Casino & Lodge, where his specially commissioned paddles—depicting wolf, frog, blue heron, bear, and salmon carved from locally harvested western red cedar—create a visual narrative of Indigenous relationship with the natural world. In these spaces, Paul's work sometimes appears alongside that of his niece Nakiya Edwards—a testament to his success in ensuring the transmission of cultural knowledge across generations.
In an age of rapid cultural transformation, Kevin "Wa lee hub" Paul stands as both guardian and innovator of Coast Salish artistic tradition—his hands connecting past and future through the sacred act of carving.
It's also worth noting that this extraordinary artist's daughter is the lead singer of Black Belt Eagle Scout, Katherine Paul. In addition to being the uncle of breakout art stars Nakesha and Nakiya Edwards.
Sources: Antiqueamericanindianart, Lincoln Theatre, Swinomishcasinoandlodge, Wordpress