Eric Schweig

VIDEO:
Glass Tiger ...... [Featured] ...... D'Allen Film 7 Video

COMMERCIALS:
Lipton Soup ...... [Tonto] ....... Lipton
Wheatabix ...... [Warrior] ...... Nabisco

THEATRE:
The Cradle Will Fall ......[Shaman] ..... Theatre Of Change

VOICE:
500 Nations ...... [Voice Over] ...... Pathways Productions
Morningside ...... [King] ...... CBC Radio
Jenny's Song ...... [Len] ...... Tamarak/Gary Farmer
Image Work ....... [Spock] ...... Excel Entertainment

Simultaneous to the 18th century clashes between the French, English, and Indian peoples of eastern North America, the Inuit and Aleuts of the western continental coast were being invaded by Eurasians ... the Russians were coming. Resulting from the 1741 explorations of Vitus Behring, a Russian interest in North American furs piqued. Promyshlenniki (fur traders) rushed to the Aleutians seeking otter and seal furs. Thus began the Russian-North American fur trade/colonial period ... and consequently, the destruction of Aleutian and Inuit villages.

For the next century, the Inuit and Aleutians suffered degradation, abuse, and tragic decimation at the hands of the Promyshlenniki. Entire villages were forced into labor during the hunting seasons; men, women, and children. When the desired amount of furs were gathered, the majority of traders would return to their homeland ... 'til the next season of the hunt began again. Often they left not only with the prized pelts, but with various cultural articles they "acquired". Among the items taken to Russia were the spirit masks of the native people ...

Only at night he clears the path.
If he does it during the day,
letting the people see him,
already then,
through the people he has his reward.

Canadian actor/musician/artisan Eric Schweig has carved in one form or another nearly his entire life. Under the tutelage of notable Tahltan carver Vern Etzerza, he studied traditional Pacific Coast carvings before refining and directing his talent specifically towards the recreation of the traditional Spirit Masks of his own ancestors, the Inuit. Immersing himself in available notes and photographs of various Beringian pieces acquired during the 19th century by Russian ethnographer and "collector" I. G. Voznesenskii, Eric Schweig began carving and recreating the ceremonial masks of his roots.

In what has developed into a personal journey of rediscovery of his own cultural heritage, the 32 year old Schweig has accelerated and carried his art to new heights. Corroborating with renowned West Coast painter and master carver Art Thompson of the Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth nations, Schweig has created his own, "intensely personal" series of Adoption Masks. Born from the tragic victimization he experienced at the hands of abusive adoptive parents, the Adoption Masks - titled Inuit Man Screaming - are powerful, expressively carved images of the human spirit; beautifully married elements of aesthetic beauty and vivid expressions of pain. Influenced by the artistic style of Indonesia and inspired by a child’s suffering, the masks are dedicated to all who have been uprooted from their culture and tragically victimized.

Born in Inuvik, NWT, Canada on June 19, 1967 to an artistically gifted family of painters and carvers, Eric Schweig was adopted at age six months. After residing six years in Inuvik, the family relocated and finally settled in Toronto. Eric demonstrated both a love and a gift for carving at an early age. It was, says Schweig, "... something that came naturally to me. I’ve been working with wood since I was knee high." As a child, Eric frequently carved Inuit figures, kayaks, knives, guns, and various toys for other children. A source of pleasure in childhood, it was a skill he was to retain and nurture into adulthood.

Schweig left home at the age of 16, relying upon his woodworking skills to support himself in Toronto by seeking renovation and framing work. In 1987, while still in Toronto, the 20 year old Schweig was approached by a stranger and encouraged to audition for an upcoming production called The Shaman’s Source. Despite having had no prior acting experience, Schweig decided to audition. He won the role and thus began his film career. He continued to support himself both through Toronto theatre productions and as a musician until the pivotal year 1992 offered new opportunities. In that year, he auditioned for and won the role of "Uncas" in Michael Mann’s film The Last Of The Mohicans. The success of the film and the publicity it generated afforded the actor visibility that opened new doors in the film industry. Schweig went on to star in numerous major film productions.