Learning to Carve Argillite

My dad always reminds me to work hard and help our family. Whether it is chopping firewood to sell, hauling water for our home, or fishing for the family, I must always work hard and help our family. But on days like today, when I am not in school and all of the chores are done, I have time to carve argillite, a rock that is used for Haida art, just like my dad does. I do not have a workbench. Instead, I take the small argillite pole that I have been working on and go outside to sit on the steps at the front of my house. The sun shines down, warming my hair, and I can smell the salt in the wind as it comes up off the water from the inlet. Today I am working on the eagle at the top of my pole.