Mike Dangeli is of the Nisga’a, Tlingit, Tsetsaut, and Tsimshian Nations. He belongs to the

Beaver Clan and carries the names Goothl Ts’imilx (Heart of the Beaver House) and Teettlien

(Big Wave). Mike currently lives in Vancouver, BC where he founded the House of Culture: Art and Carving Studio. The programs that he organized in the House of Culture sought a holistic approach to teaching Northwest Coast art to urban First Nations children, youth, and adults through classes, workshops and seminars. Working as primarily a commissioned based artist, the House of Culture also functions as Mike’s studio where he creates his art for his commissions, galleries, and ceremonial pieces for his community.

Mike’s works include masks, drums, regalia, paintings, and limited edition silk-screened prints; Mike has also completed 20 totem Poles and a 30-foot Ocean going Canoe.

Mike is also an accomplished singer, songwriter, and dancer. One of Mike’s specializations is creating mask and other ceremonial wealth that is used in dancing. Since 2003 Mike has shared the leadership of The Git Hayetsk Dancers with his wife Mique’l Dangeli (Tsimshian). Their dance group reflects the diversity of the urban First Nations population of Vancouver. Its forty members bring together representatives of the Nisga’a, Tsimshian, Tlingit, Haida, Gitksan, and Haisla Nations. With this and previous group, Mike and Mique’l has performed, held lectures, workshops, and carving demonstration in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, Austria, Malaysia, Germany and Japan. They take pride in respectfully being traditionally contemporary and make it a priority is to both continue and expand our ancient traditions in contemporary times and as such we sing the songs of ancestors as well as create new songs, dances, drums, rattles, masks, and regalia to reflect and record our experiences as First Nations people today.