RavenSong Artist in Residence
Jessica Chickite – Lekwiltok Artist (We Wai Kai Nation)
Jessica Chickite (b. 1982) is a respected Lekwiltok artist from the Cape Mudge Band of the We Wai Kai Nation.
She is the great-granddaughter of the late hereditary Chief Johnny Chickite and the daughter of Max and Barbara Chickite. Deeply rooted in her community and cultural traditions, Jessica carries forward a proud artistic lineage while forging a contemporary practice that is distinctly her own.
Raised in Campbell River, Jessica has been immersed in the visual language of Northwest Coast Indigenous art since childhood. At the age of nine, she won her first art competition and began following in her father’s footsteps as a painter. Over the years, she has expanded her repertoire to include works on paper, wood, canvas, and deer hide drums, as well as large-scale murals that animate schools, community spaces, and cultural landmarks. One of her most notable commissions was designing and painting the front-of-house artwork for the Mini Big House at North Island College, a project that continues to stand as a symbol of cultural pride and community representation.
Jessica has recently dedicated herself to working as a full-time artist—fulfilling a lifelong dream to create and share her art professionally. Her practice now spans both traditional mediums and digital design, where she creates contemporary artwork and logos for local businesses, blending ancestral knowledge with modern tools.
Equally committed to cultural continuity, Jessica frequently collaborates with the local school district, offering workshops and teachings that introduce children to Indigenous art forms and stories. She views this work as an essential responsibility—ensuring that the teachings, values, and visual traditions of the First Peoples along the Salish Sea continue to flourish for future generations.
