Mind full: Nang K̲’uulas gets and gives with gratitude

Nang K‘uulass at the Haida Gwaii Youth Assembly with Gii AhlGalang Kii.naay (Team Media).

Rhonda Lee McIsaac —

When you see Nang K’uulas “The Boss” Patrick Shannon in his hometown of HlGaagilda Skidegate, he has an easy stride that oozes confidence. But that was not always the case, he says, while on the phone from Toronto, one cool morning, this November.

“I didn’t feel like I belonged,” he said, about his very early years on Haida Gwaii. But that changed when he returned home after an extended time in Vancouver attending high school, graduated on Haida Gwaii, and went back to Vancouver and immediately went to work in the film industry, learning and teaching himself the skills he needed while working on various media projects. On his return home, he found a lot more people involved in the culture and language, and, in very public and innovative ways. And, it was then he reconnected with his family, culture, and nature.

He laughs when asked what he does? “Even my parents don’t know what I do but they are proud of me,” he said. His success has piled up but not through easy means, he has hustled, suffered, and worked hard to become an artist, filmmaker, photographer, and graphic designer.

The city still shows through in his dark-rimmed glasses, groomed beard and his fashion sense. Nang K’uulas is fun, personable, and passionate about what he does and the world is noticing and he’s taking it all in – slowly and methodically. Behind his style is a well-crafted creative and socially conscious mind, filled with intent and a desire to collaborate and make meaningful connections with others.

“I’m surrounded by all of these amazing people and artists,” he said. That community and Nang K’uulas’ natural networking paid off in Toronto where he has just finished a short video and photo shoot for an Indigenous fashion line.

It is through connections like these that he heard about an opportunity with the Canada Council. The Council was sponsoring five artists from Canada to attend The Salzburg Global Forum as part of 50 Young Cultural Innovators gathering from around the world.

Nang K’uulas made the cut and ended up in Europe ensconced in a rococo-style 18th-century castle at Scholoss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, Austria.

The Salzburg Global Forum is held over five days and provides innovators with opportunities to network with other global leaders and creators, develop their entrepreneurial visions, expand their skills and to push boundaries. This project is in the fourth year of a 10-year initiative.

The coolest thing that happened in Salzburg, Nang K’uulas said, besides being at the film location for the Sound of Music, was on the front lawn of the castle. There he taught a group from around the world the Haida national anthem, also known as the Lyell Island song.

“It warmed my heart,” he said, hearing the different voices ringing out over the well-groomed gardens in a faraway place. The group later grew to over 50 voices singing in the palace and he says he felt the solidarity and pride of those in attendance. “It was amazing,” he says, breathless, and still in awe of the moment.

Nang K’uulas is no stranger to winning awards and he encourages youth to be part of the art circuit – he mentors and involves young artists in his digital and print design, and photography and video production work. He does workshops in rural and urban areas from Skidegate to Vancouver, to Toronto, and beyond. His annual gig with the Haida Gwaii Youth Assembly is always engaging and goes a long way to fostering a love of technology and the arts in the youth.

His past awards include 2013 – Emerging Innovator, Project Gwaii (Ashoka Changemakers and American Express); 2015 – Social Innovation Finalist, Project Regen (Futurpreneur Canada, Thrive North Business Challenge); 2015 – Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, EVIL Patrick by Design (BC Aboriginal Business Awards).

Nang K’uulas hopes to create change and increase capacity among the younger generations of up and coming entrepreneurs in order to move his home from an extraction based economy to a more creative force.

“We have so much potential on Haida Gwaii, and in Canada, North America and the world,” he said. To prove his point Nang K’uulas is using all of the support and mentoring he has been given and paying it forward by inspiring people who wish to do extraordinary things with their brains, body, and spirit!

Nang K‘uulas at the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators that took place in Schloss Leopoldskron, Salzburg Austria in mid-October. photo: Salzburg Global Seminar/Herman Seidl