Inuk Artist Barry Best Demonstrates Inuit Carvings at The Village at Black Creek

In the north end of Toronto, on the border of Vaughan in York Region, there is an absolute gem of a living museum that even those born and raised in the T-Dot never tire of. It is a place where the pace of life takes a nice, slow breath so that visitors can experience what earlier times in Ontario were like—the 1860s, to be precise.

If you have lived in and around the Greater Toronto Area for a while, you may recognize this heartwarming place by a different name: Black Creek Pioneer Village. In recent years, however, there has been an effort to “restory” the Village to honour the fact that Ontario is, and always has been, a place of many voices, many perspectives and many peoples. And so, as you approach the entrance of this beloved landmark, with its iconic peaked gables, you will see its new name proudly displayed above the front door: The Village at Black Creek.

The team at the Village is achieving this restorying through a multi-faceted approach, combining research, exhibits, art, events, demonstrations and workshops with Indigenous artists. “Building on our strong history as a living history museum,” Black Creek Village states, “the time has come to for us to expand and enrich the stories we tell – stories that acknowledge and recognize the many communities that have shaped this land and place we call home, including Indigenous peoples who have lived here for millennia.”

Spoon carving demonstrations at The Village

Inuk artist Barry Best is one of these collaborators. Barry, whose heritage is rooted in Labrador on Canada’s east coast, offers spoon carving demonstrations to eager Village visitors. Spoon carving, which is celebrated for both its practical applications as well as its artistic elements, is a traditional skill passed down through the generations in many Indigenous communities. For his demonstrations, Barry harvests materials from the Village property directly. “I split the wood in front of the spectators, and I’ll show them how to identify how old the tree is, how the tree was growing at the time, that kind of thing,” he says.

Demonstrations are also a hands-on experience, which is something guests enjoy as they are invited to split the harvested wood by hammering the axe once it has been expertly embedded. To show spectators his progress as an artist, Barry will then compare the spoons he carves now with the ones he made when he started carving many years ago. “People love it,” he says. “They’ll often ask how they can buy a spoon to take home with them, but I don’t really sell them. I will, however, point them to where they can learn to carve their own.”

Barry’s fondness for natural materials, for protecting the environment and of our connection to the land has been a lifelong endeavour. “I grew up with my father’s Inuk culture—clothing and hunting and fishing and all that,” he explains. “I didn’t grow up with his language, but I am learning it now, and am quite comfortable with it. With the community I’ve grown up in, I’ve always been interested in the environment and our bond with nature.” Today, in addition to being an artist, Barry is also an accomplished photographer and an environmental defender. Having worked in the forestry industry for many years, he has a demonstrable track record of planting trees. “I’ve personally planted over sixty thousand trees,” he states. “I’ve practically erased my own carbon footprint, my mom’s my dad’s, you name it.”

In fact, talking about actionable things we can do to help the environment is something Barry often brings to his demonstrations, and indeed to his everyday interactions with others, by encouraging positive conversations. “I ask people what they can do to clean up the environment,” he says. “They always land on the common buzzwords like ‘green,’ and ‘natural,’ of course. They know to drive less and to use less water and to reduce, reuse recycle. But they seem surprised when I suggest planting trees. The forestry industry, for example, now replaces what it cuts. But that doesn’t replace what we’ve lost over the centuries. Planting trees is a simple action we can take to do more for the natural world.”

Spirit Wind art installations at Black Creek

Besides his popular demonstrations, Barry Best is the artist behind a collection of sculptures which can be found around the village, and which make up the art installation called Spirit Wind. Like his spoons, Barry has used felled trees from the property to bring to life six wooden carvings. These sculptures tell the Inuit narrative of The Soul That Let Itself Be Born Again in All the Animals Of The Earth. “There was once a great shaman who wanted to see what it was like to live the life of all animals,” the tale beings. “So she let herself be reborn in all kinds of animals.”

Walk the Village and learn through each carving about the tale of the shaman who wishes to learn more about the world through the eyes of the animals. It’s a narrative which symbolizing a deep understanding and respect for all the creatures on earth, and each carving shares a part of the tale. “It’s an interactive and informative installation,” Barry explains. “You walk around the village and visit each carving, which has a piece of the story for you to read. You can look into the shaman’s face and see your own face there, you can see the markings on the bear, the caribou, the other animals, and it’s like you’re being transformed yourself. Like you are a part of the tale.” As you go, you will have the opportunity to learn the Inuktitut words for the animals, as well as the symbolism within each of these carvings and how important they are to Inuit culture.

Visit The Village at Black Creek to learn more

To experience Black Creek’s spoon carving demonstrations with Inuit artist Barry Best in person, and to learn more about the changing narrative of the village, visit www.blackcreek.ca for details on admissions and what’s on. Of course, Black Creek continues to educate and inform visitors about 1860s Ontario through its regular features and historical buildings, as well as through favourite programming and events.

Want to know more about Spirit Wind by Inuit artist Barry Best? Check out our recent blog post which provides an in-depth look at this fascinating collection of sculptures: Welcoming A New Era for The Village at Black Creek.

The Village at Black Creek

1000 Murray Ross Pkwy, Toronto

Updated: August 20, 2025