LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Doug Martel returned to Fort Simpson in September for the first time since he was 19.

Now 47, he had left the community to pursue a career in welding, which led him to British Columbia where he started a career in carving.

Doug Martel shows one of his west coast style carvings in Fort Simpson, during one of his first visits back there, on Sept. 14, since he left at age 19. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

"I pretty much want to keep my mind occupied. I do the art and the working. Right now I'm not working so I'm carving. You always need something to fall back on," said Martel.

He was born in Fort Simpson and spent his time between there and Hay River, where his father is from.

At 19, he went to Fort Smith's Thebacha College, now Aurora College, to get a degree in welding.

Martel took his apprenticeship while working on Baffin Island, and at age 21 he moved to Alberta to find work.

"I pretty much followed the work," said Martel, and this trail eventually led him to where he lives now, in Burnaby, B.C.

On the west coast, he saw the Haida carvers and thought that he could pick up the art himself.

He had carved a little as a child, when he would hew toy weapons and other things that he couldn't afford to buy - but would not carve as an artist until adulthood.

As he has been living on the west coast, he has used the Haida style in many of his creations, but his identity remains Dene.

"I do sign my art as Dene. I am Dene and I will always continue to be Dene," said Martel.

He stays in touch with his relatives in the North. He is related to the Nahanni family on his mother's side.

As soon as he's done a few carvings and ties up some loose ends in Burnaby, Martel plans to return to Fort Simpson and do some carpentry work, as well as carving and adapting more to the Dene style.

He's looking into what sort of work is available in Fort Smith so that he can move back permanently.

"Right now, I'm just trying to finish off these three bears and finish off a few pieces. Hopefully I'll come up there with about eight pieces and try to unload them there," said Martel.

He said he has been successfully selling his art since he started carving and always manages to generate interest.

He's sure he'll continue to sell his art, as he feels he can adapt to the styles of wherever he is.

"I can pretty much adapt. Art's art. It's what comes out of your mind," said Martel.