Michael Blackstock began exploring his First Nations heritage through visual art in 1986. He is a Northwest coast Gitxsan artist. Michael has studied under the Gitxsan Master Carver, Walter Harris, who won the Governor General’s award for his artistic contribution to Canada. Michael expresses his vision through paintings, carvings and photography.

Michael has a Masters of Art degree in First Nations Studies, and he has served as a member of the UNESCO-IHP Expert Advisory Group on Water and Cultural Diversity.

Blackstock is also a published author. His recent book Oceaness is a book of social commentary that includes poems, essays and art works. It features his theory of Blue Ecology which was developed with Elders, by interweaving their perspective with that of Western Science. The themes of this book are: water; ecology; oral history; human rights; music; and humour.