Carey Newman, who was recently given the traditional name Nulis, is a multi-disciplinary artist, carver, filmmaker, author and public speaker. Through his father, he is Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw and Coast Salish. On his mother’s side, his ancestors are English, Irish, and Scottish Settlers. In his artistic practice he strives to highlight Indigenous, social, and environmental issues as he examines the impacts of colonialism and capitalism, harnessing the power of material truth to unearth memory and trigger the necessary emotion to drive positive change. He is also interested in engaging with community and incorporating innovative methods derived from traditional teachings and Indigenous worldviews into his process.

Highlights from his career include the Cowichan 2008 Spirit Pole, a journey that saw him travel the province of BC sharing the experience of carving a 20’ totem with over 11,000 people; a major commission entitled “Dancing Wind” installed at the 2010 Olympic Games, Athletes Village in Whistler; writing, directing and producing award winning films, publishing his two first books, one of which earned the Norma Fleck Award for Children’s Literature, and his recently completed Totem 2.0 project – an artistic and engineering collaboration that preserves old growth ecosystems by creating a full scale totem using only second generation cedar.

Perhaps his most influential work, The Witness Blanket, made of items collected from residential schools, government buildings and churches across Canada, deals with the subject of Truth and Reconciliation. It is now part of the collection at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Carey was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2017, was named to the Order of British Columbia in 2018, and is the inaugural Impact Chair in Indigenous Art Practices at the University of Victoria. In June of 2023 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws, honoris causa, by Royal Roads University. In 2024 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and at a traditional ceremony in July of 2025, was transferred the name Nulis, making him a hereditary chief within the Kwakwaka’wakw nation.