Long before Nakesha Edwards and Nakiya Luna picked up carving tools and paintbrushes, their ancestors shaped the artistic traditions they now carry forward. The twin sisters, members of the Swinomish Tribal Community, descend from a long line of artists, including their great-grandfather, master carver Charlie Edwards, who crafted the original Swinomish story pole in 1938 as part of a Works Progress Administration project.

Now, the 26-year-old sisters are leaving their own mark, trading the La Conner High School basketball courts for creative spaces where they produce vibrant Coast Salish artwork. Over the past year, they have been commissioned to create indigenous public art for the new Skagit Public Utility District office in Mount Vernon and the Didgwalic Wellness Center in Bellingham.

Honoring tradition, creating new paths

Primarily carvers and painters, Edwards and Luna also have explored fabric art and designed logos for specialty apparel. Their passion for art is more than a profession — it’s a calling deeply rooted in their family’s history.

“Art is such a creative way to do messaging,” Edwards said. “I love the storytelling aspect of art. It helps build a stronger connection to the project’s theme.”

The sisters have drawn inspiration from Swinomish carver Kevin Paul, a nationally recognized artist with clients around the world. Paul, who played a key role in carving and painting a replacement for their great-grandfather’s original Swinomish story pole in 1989, mentored Luna when she was in high school.

“KP has definitely been an influence,” Luna said. “When I was in high school, I took the carving class that he taught.”

Years later, when Paul restored that same pole after decades of exposure to Pacific Northwest weather, he enlisted Luna and fellow Swinomish artist Zanetta Cayou to assist.

A journey in art and education

While Luna balanced basketball and studies at Everett and Skagit Valley community colleges, Edwards pursued formal training at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M. She capped her coursework with a 30-page research paper on the importance of preserving Coast Salish art.

Edwards recalls the moment her passion for the art form crystallized. During a high school basketball trip to Friday Harbor, she encountered Susan Point’s sculpture Interaction at Fairweather Park. The bold, colorful Coast Salish designs immediately captivated her.

“From the time I saw her Welcome Piece at Friday Harbor,” Edwards said, “I’ve always admired Susan Point’s work.”

Her appreciation ran so deep that she chose Coast Salish art as the focus of her Senior Seminar presentation at La Conner High School. She became so engrossed in discussing the topic that she lost track of time.

“I had 40 minutes to speak,” Edwards said, smiling wide. “And I had gone about 55 minutes when coach (Scott) Novak came in the room and said we had to go, that the bus was waiting.”

Bringing Coast Salish art to public spaces

The sisters take a meticulous approach to their commissions, engaging in in-depth discussions with clients to ensure each piece reflects the project’s theme.

For Skagit PUD, they collaborated to paint wooden plaques depicting Salish Sea salmon. The finished pieces, praised as “stunning” and “gorgeous,” now grace the new office space. Their reputation as skilled artists played a role in securing the opportunity.

“When PUD was looking for display art in its new building, someone who knew our work recommended us,” Edwards said. “It’s always exciting when people reach out to us.”

The Didgwalic commission required a much quicker turnaround. In January, Eugene Edwards from Didgwalic asked if they could produce a handful of indigenous pieces in just over a month. The sisters completed four decorative boards in time for a Valentine’s Day ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Bellingham facility.

Expanding their creative horizons

Beyond painting and carving, Luna has set her sights on fabric design. She recalled seeing a Pendleton coat priced at $2,000 and thinking, I’ve got to learn to make that coat.

Now, she is working on “indigenizing” Pendleton-style garments by incorporating Coast Salish elements into her designs.

Meanwhile, Edwards continues to explore new artistic mediums, using her skills to promote mental health awareness. As the Swinomish Mental Health Program manager, she designed a striking logo for suicide prevention advocacy hoodies last year.

Balancing art, work, and family

Both sisters juggle full-time careers alongside their artistic endeavors. Luna, married with two children, applies her collegiate athletics background at the Swinomish Fitness Center. Edwards is the Swinomish Mental Health Program manager, and last year designed a striking logo for suicide prevention advocacy hoodies.

Finding time to pursue art requires creativity itself, but they remain committed to their craft. Paul’s advice to pursue their art for its lasting impressions rather than a stipend keeps them motivated.

“Our hope,” Edwards said, “is that we have enough of an impact that it encourages our youth.”