John, is an enrolled member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and a descendant of the Original People of Seattle though the Siddle Line. He was born into the art world as the son of the founding director of the Sacred Circle Gallery at Daybreak Star Cultural Center.
At the beginning of the pandemic Coyote had an allergic reaction that left him legally blind. He died three times before being revived and when he returned, he started painting – defiantly.
He experiences his blindness as “looking through a sheet of wax paper” where he can see a blurry outline, but cannot see details such as eyes or moving lips.
He signs each painting with the name of his personal spirit helper – or temanwas – COYOTE who is the survivor, and so is he.