Louie Gong
Louie Gong is a Native of mixed heritage (Nooksack, Squamish, Chinese, French, Scottish) who was raised by his grandparents, father, and step-mom both in Ruskin, B.C. and in the Nooksack tribal community. Film Festival. He has worked as a teacher, child and family therapist, and counseling program coordinator. In all these roles, and in his current position as Education Resource Coordinator for Muckleshoot Tribal College, Louie’s work reflects the need to recognize the dynamic realities of modern life while maintaining a strong cultural identity. His commentary on issues related to the racial identity has appeared in dozens of major news media, including the MSNBC.com, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Education Week and many others.
In 2009 he found his groove as an artist when – on a whim – he took a sharpie to a pair of Vans. The resulting merger of Coast Salish art and a pop culture icon like Vans was the perfect statement to represent his complex cultural identity. When many other folks also recognized the message carried by the shoes, Louie realized he had stumbled upon a new way to spark dialogue about identity
Follow Us on Facebook
