Steve(Silver Bear) A.K.A cornplanter.is a mohawk indian from the bear clan.born in Kahnawake 1955.A selftaught artist,renowned traditional dancer and seed saver. began carving wood at age nine,making pipes, small woodenmask; hornrattles; drums; spoons.At 16 learnt to make turtlerattles,from Kenny Miller.In his later teens began to make fully carved cradleboards.
As a young boy he was encouraged,by his aunt Jane and his uncle Ken ,who bought and still have some of the first carvings he ever made.He became greatly influenced,by seeing Jimi Hendrix smash his guitar on tv in 1967. Hendrix energy has always been ,Silverbears creative inspiration in his life,his carving, crafts,dancing and as leader of his dance troope the thunderhawk dancers. Purple Haze is in my brain; in his early 20's was given a piece of soapstone by his friend Ross Montour,then his work took on a new direction. His works have been exhibited in new york city and Montreal and in Ottawa and acquired by numerous private and corporate collectors,museums and the D.I.N.A. collection. has been a juror for the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation.in 1985 became recipient Canada Council For The Arts. B Grant. director of the fabulous Thunderhawk dancers
