Tofino, BC - When Valeen Jules performed spoken word poetry at the Koksilah Music Festival last year, the 24-year-old played ancestral Nuu-chah-nulth music in the background. As the familiar melodies danced through Joe Martin’s ears, the master carver was lured to the stage and introduced himself to the young poet. Like kindred spirits, they bonded immediately and Martin has been mentoring Jules as a wood carver ever since. From paddles to bentwood boxes, the exposure led Jules to dream of carving a traditional dugout canoe that would allow family members to travel along the coast. After securing grant funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and First Peoples’ Cultural Council, that dream is becoming a reality.