Swil Kanim, a classically trained violinist, native storyteller and actor, is a member of the Lummi Nation. He was born on November 11, 1961 in Seattle, Washington and grew up in the Bellingham, Washington area.
As a young boy, he was separated from his parents and spent the remainder of his childhood in foster homes. One of his teachers encouraged him to enroll in a music program, and the violin became his music instrument of choice. Through music, he found his path to healing childhood wounds and reconnect to his native roots.
Because of his unique ability to inspire audiences to express themselves honorably, Swil Kanim is a sought-after keynote speaker for conferences, workshops, school assemblies, and rehabilitation centers.
He travels extensively throughout the United States, enchanting audiences with his original composition music and native storytelling. His workshops, The Elements of Honor, are attended by people from all walks of life.
Swil Kanim’s compositions incorporate classical influences as well as musical interpretations of his journey from depression and despair to spiritual and emotional freedom. The music and stories that emerge from his experiences have been transforming people’s lives for decades.
During a recent interview, Swil Kanim said the following about the “Works for the People” CD: “I played each piece of the album as if it was the only chance I had to record it. I was striving for the perfection in the moment rather than perfection in the eternal recording. I wanted to create that feeling that I was playing for the individual listener. Rather than have an album of individual pieces, I would try to tie each track together considering the energy level of the preceding and following piece and the last piece with the first piece.”
Make No Bones About It 