Friends Eric Schweig and Rolf Bouman discuss why Eric started to manufacture traditional knives

Rolf Bouman is chatting with his friend Eric Schweig, who is teaching and exploring Indigenous arts and crafts at the Friends United International Convention Centre in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. When Eric is not working as an actor, he often carves traditional North American Indigenous wooden masks to commemorate his heritage and inspire the younger generations.

In this case, Eric repurposes car and truck leaf springs, which he picked up at a local junkyard, and creates knives as a gift for young friends. Eric also describes how he is making carving knives from steel for his fellow carvers Gerry Sheena and Darren McKenzie. This video is an inspiring learning tool for youth and teenagers as it demonstrates that even with the simplest of tools, new items can be brought back to life from recycled materials. Eric describes to Rolf that he has taken up the art of traditional knife-making as his Japanese Sensei encouraged him to explore this craft. Eric also describes his interest in Japanese culture as he is trying to honour his late Japanese girlfriend, who was the love of his life. A truly inspiring conversation between friends!

More about the Friends United Initiative and the artists behind it at: https://www.friends-united.ca/