Trent Levi Gordon

Trent Levi Gordon is a specialty ulu and knife-maker from Inuuvik, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NT. A carpenter by trade, Gordon honed his skills in metal and woodworking to develop unique designs made from recycled materials, giving his pieces their signature antique look. 

Gordon got his start making ulus and knives in 2023 after attending a mentorship program led by master ulu-maker Rory Voudrach (1973–2024) through the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. “It was one month long, I was working with him on the weekends, at his shop and house,” he recounts, crediting his time with Voudrach as the foundational inspiration for his artistic practice. [1] In addition to Voudrach, the other artists from the Northwest Territories that inspire Gordon’s practice include Darrel Nasogaluak, Peter Cockney, Danny Gordon and Sammy Lennie. Seeing older ulus in museums, like the Hand of Man Museum in Maple Bay, BC, and in old photographs also help Gordon develop new designs and styles.

Gordon approaches his ulu and knife-making by repurposing found materials, like the metal and original hardwood from vintage handsaws, and incorporating them into new pieces. “I’m always looking for old saws,” he says. Organic materials like moose antler also often appear in Gordon’s pieces as decorative handles. Each design is unique—in some ulus, Gordon retains the antler’s natural shape. In others, the antler is carefully shaved down into a smooth, rounded rectangular handle exuding minimalism. Another of Gordon’s ulu designs incorporates original hardwood from a vintage saw, repurposed into an amorphous handle that includes the original medallion details that adorned the original handsaw. 

To expand his practice, Gordon plans to participate in art markets that are both local and across Canada, following in his mentor Rory Voudrach’s footsteps. “I pretty much make [work] almost every weekend—it’s a steady project,” he says.