Freda Diesing was a Haida artist from Prince Rupert, BC. She was given the Haida name Skil Kew Wat, ‘magical little woman’, a name that reflects the influence and power of her talent.
One of the first female carvers on the modern northwest coast, Freda began her carving career at the age of 42. She studied at the Vancouver School of Art and at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art at ‘Ksan Village.
In 2000, she was awarded an honorary diploma from Coast Mountain College (formerly Northwest Community College). In 2002, she received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award and an honorary doctorate from the University of Northern British Columbia.
