Brien Foerster was raised on the west coast of Canada, where he developed a fascination for the Native people, their art, and oral traditions. This led to his becoming a professional sculptor, after graduating with an honours BSc degree from the University Of Victoria. In 1995, he moved to Maui, Hawaii, and was hired as assistant project manager for the building of the 62 foot double hull sailing canoe (ancestor of the modern day catamaran) and the restoration of the famous Mo'olele sailing canoe. He started an online outrigger paddle business, which flourished internationally.
Peru became his next major area of interest. The study of the Inca culture led to his writing a book, A Brief History of the Incas, and he is now the assistant director of the Paracas History Museum in Paracas, south of Lima.