Keane was born in Terrace, BC. His Nisga’a name is Wal Aks, coming from the House of Axdii Wil Luu-Gooda of the Git-Wilt’uuts’kwhl Aks Clan of the Raven / Frog tribe among the Nisga’a People. He currently resides in Vancouver / Ts’amiks. Keane Wal Aks is fluent in the Nisga’a language and takes pride in learning other languages. From childhood he has been taught the traditional values of his culture and oral history of his people by his mom and many aunts and uncles, but above all by his late
grandmother Addie Tait and his late grandfather Tom Tait.

Keane is an accomplished Gwiis Maakskw (lit. Wearing White) weaver. He started out learning Salish Weaving from the Musqueam weaver Debra Sparrow and Wal Aks is now an accomplished Ravens’ Tail (Gwiis Maakskw) Weaver.

Wal Aks / Keane and his mom, Emily, have worked as a team under their home-based business “Radiating Ravens”. Their work is predominately in the form of sewing by hand and machine. He creates all the artwork for the Regalia and Feastwear made by the family duo.

• Regalia fabric: Button Blankets (with or without buttons), tunics, leggings, dance aprons, headbands
• Regalia Leather: Tunics, leggings, dance aprons, headbands, moccasins, pouches
• Beadwork: closure for Button Blankets (various crests, and
  beaded chilkat face); beaded pouch, earrings, Crest bracelets
• Feastwear: Vests (various fabrics including Melton) for men, women, and children, christening gowns, wedding dresses, groomsmen vests and jackets, hats (similar to cedar bark hat, but made out of material)

Keane Wal Aks is inspired by his late Grandfather Tom T. Tait, his cousin Peter T. McKay, and Mike Dangeli.