Dennis Vermiere was Born in 1947 in Vancouver, BC, from a Native father and a Caucasian mother. Dennis was raised with no exposure to his First Nations heritage. A life-changing event in 1988 caused him to explore his cultural background.

He began carving in the early ‘90s and is self-taught in the art of making bentwood boxes. In 2005 he joined a carving group that focuses/concentrates on Northwest Coast native art and now carves masks and bowls. In 2007 Dennis started carving with one of Washington State’s most accomplished carvers.

"I have developed a strong connection with my First Nations heritage by working with wood and am continually refining my skills."

Northwest Coast Bentwood Boxes

The bentwood box represents one of the most significant woodworking achievements of the Northwest Coast peoples.

The boxes were highly regarded and their value depended on how elaborately they were painted and carved.  Boxes were often considered family heirlooms and passed down from one generation to the next.

They were used for a variety of purposes – cooking, storing food/possessions, trade/gifts, and for burial boxes.