Biographical Information
Ronald McKay ~ [20th Century] Indigenous
Ronald McKay, Taltsonottine Artist, is a poud decendant of the King-Beaulieu & McKay Families. Ronald is a non-registered Dene, his heritage and background are a direct link to the Taltsonottine (Yellowknife Dene) and to the Akaitcho Family of Akaitcho Territory. Ronald has been doing art work since the age of eight when he learned to carve his first slingshot crutch and bow and arrows. He then carved wooden guitars out of 2 x 10s his dad stored behind the warehouse and sold these guitars to friends around town. He devoted himself to drawing, etching and painting for the next few years. He saw a new style of dene art - of one-winged eagles. He decided he wanted to develop a means of presentation that incorporated more proportion. Ron has been honing his skills as a carver/artist and developing his keen and perceptive eye for detail. His complex carvings are a combination of bone, antler, stone and native woods in elegant shapes and colors. In 1996 Ronald won 1st place at the Hay River Fall Fair. In 2000, his work was exhibited at the Dene Cultural Institute that was included in the Governor General's tour to the N.W.T. Ronald has also been interviewed regarding his art, a number of times over the last five years. In 2003, Ronald was an invited artist at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik.

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