BIOGRAPHY ON ERIC SCHWEIG

Eric As Uncas in "Last of the Mohicans"

Eric Schweig was born on June 19th 1967, in Inuvik, NWT, to an Inuk mother.At the age of 6 mos. he was given up for adoption and hence received the name Schweig. Eric spent the first 6 years of his life in Inuvik, and then moved with his adoptive family to the province of Ontario, Canada. At the age of 16 Eric left home and found work as a construction worker. By a stroke of luck he was approached by a producer in Toronto and asked to audition for a low-budget flick called THE "SHAMAN'S SOURCE". Eric, of course, got the part and continued to be involved in the film industry."Walk on" parts followed in Black Beauty, Chaindance and others. He was also featured in a "Glass Tiger" video. However, his acting career really took off after Eric was cast as Uncas in the Michael Mann production of "Last of the Mohicans". Many more projects followed. Among them was his protrayal of "Injun Joe"in "Tom & Huck" for which he was honoured (Outstanding performance by an actor in a supporting film) at the 4th Annual American Indian in theArts Film Festival in Los Angeles in February 1996. Eric then took a well deserved break from the acting business and concentrated on his involvement with a youth drama group on Vancouver Island. Because of his friendship with an acclaimed West Coast carver,Vern Etzerza, Eric developed an interest in carving himself. Under the tutelage of his mentor Eric started carving Inuit Spirit Masks. In 1998 he began to showcase his masks on the internet via the Mohicanpress site. Eric has since found another mentor in Victoria BC. Art Thompson is teaching him the finer art of Mask Carving and seems to have inspired Eric to carve his dramatic series of Adoption Masks.

Click here to read more on Art Thompson

Eric's Teacher (Art Thompson)- - Nuu-Chah-Nulth in regalia before a Dance screen from Ditidaht

"Listen to the North Wind. It has come to take us away. The name, Inuvialuit,will only be heard in the wind. The lands will still be there, the moon will still shine, the Northern lights will still be bright and the Midnight Sun will still be seen. but we will be gone forever..."

Anthony Aparkark Thrasher

(Uncas picture property of 20th Century Fox-copyright)

Wolf Link Courtesy of Lady Kali Wolves Gallery

Wolf Background Courtesy of Destiny's Lady

(Copyright Rose 99)