Yukon's royal carver: First Nations artist makes gift for Prince William

When renowned TlingitcarverKeith WolfeSmarchmeets Prince Williamin Carcross, Yukon, on Wednesday, he'll get to show the young royal how he practises his craft.

He'll also get toreminisceabout his last royal encounter, 15 years ago.

• Royals to begin Yukon visit with cultural celebration

• IN DEPTH: The 2016 Royal visit to Canada

"I'm definitely going tobring up his father," Smarch said. "Maybe he can say 'hi' to his father for me."

Smarch presentedPrince Charles with a carved maskduring the Prince's 2001 Yukon visit. Smarchwas also invited to the royal dinner that year.

The mask is now part of the Buckingham Palace art collection, something Smarch calls "the highlight of my career."

"So having his son come here now is really a surprise and it's going to be quite an honour," Smarch said.

Like his father, Prince William will be going home with an originalSmarch carving a small totem pole, featuringa killer whale and a character called Gunar.

"[Gunar]was the one that created the killer whale in the beginning," Smarch said.

Royals to visit carving shed

Smarch has been burning the midnight oil to finish his carving in time for the royal visit to Carcross.

"With Prince Charles, they gave me a year's notice. With Prince William, I only had, like, two and a half, three weeks notice ... but I got it done.

"You work good under pressure."

TheKhShdeHniof theCarcross/Tagish First Nation (chief) Andy Carvill will officially present the carving, but Smarch will have a few minutes with the royals when they visit his carving shed afterwards.

He says he'll have about five to six minutes to chat withWill and Kate and show them his work, including a 12-metre pole that he and his son Aaron have been working on for a year. It will ultimately go to the First Nation's learning centre.

"We're going to surprise them and see if they'll do a little something on it for us, too," Smarch said."They don't know that yet!"

Smarchsaid he feels lucky to be apartof two royal visits, and being able to showcase and promoteTlingit culture to two future Kings.

• This father and son duo are carving art that towers dozens of metres high

"It's quite an honour to have that.I don't think I know many people that have two pieces in the royal collection," Smarch said.

"The whole point of what we're doing here is, we're trying to carry on a tradition."