Neil Baker was born in 1960 into the Coast Salish Nation on the Stawumus Reservation in British Columbia. Neil is a self-taught artist who began carving at the age of twelve. He cites his grandmother, Sadie Baker of Nanaimo, as his inspiration. Neil spent many hours watching his grandmother weave delicate baskets. He prefers to work in wood, creating hand-carved rattles, totem poles, plaques and masks.