Louie Gong
Louie Gong (born August 8, 1974) is a Canadian American visual artist, activist, public speaker, educator, and entrepreneur. His work focuses on Indigenous and multiracial identity, exploring race and identity through art, and expanding business leadership and capacity for Native artists. Early life and education Gong was born in Ruskin, British Columbia and is Native American (Nooksack), Chinese, French and Scottish. He was raised by his grandparents, father and stepmother in Ruskin, B.C. and later in the Nooksack tribal community in Washington State. Gong graduated from Western Washington University with a master's degree in school counseling and worked as a child and family therapist, first with youth from his own tribal community in the public school system. He later became a school counselor in the North Kitsap School District before moving into higher education at the University of Washington and administration at Muckleshoot Tribal College. Gong has been an independent artist and entrepreneur since 2012. Career Art Gong is the founder of the company Eighth Generation, through which he merges traditional Coast Salish art and icons from popular culture to make statements about identity. He also launched the Inspired Natives Project , with the motto "Support Inspired Natives, not Native-inspired",