# Nathan Jackson

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This article is about the American Tlingit artist. For other uses, see [Nathan Jackson (disambiguation)](/source/Nathan_Jackson_(disambiguation)).

**Nathan Jackson** (tli: *Yéil Yádi*,[1][2] born August 29, 1938)[3] is an [Alaska Native](/source/Alaska_Natives) artist. He is among the most important living [Tlingit](/source/Tlingit_people) artists[4] and the most important [Alaskan](/source/Alaska) artists.[5] He is best known for his [totem poles](/source/Totem_pole), but works in a variety of media.

Jackson belongs to the Sockeye [clan](/source/Tlingit_clans) on the Raven side of the [Chilkoot Tlingit](/source/Chilkoot_Tlingit).[3] As a young adult, he served in the military in [Germany](/source/Germany), and then became involved in commercial fishing. While ill with [pneumonia](/source/Pneumonia) and unable to fish, he began to carve miniature totem poles. His interest in art was piqued, and he enrolled in the [Institute of American Indian Arts](/source/Institute_of_American_Indian_Arts) in [Santa Fe](/source/Santa_Fe,_New_Mexico), [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico). Since then, Jackson's work has included large totem poles, canoes, carved doors, wood panel clan crests, masks, and jewelry. Jackson has worked to pass on traditional Tlingit carving skills to younger artists, and has offered many demonstrations and workshops in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.[3]

Jackson has created more than 50 totem poles,[6] some of which are on display in the [National Museum of the American Indian](/source/National_Museum_of_the_American_Indian),[7] the [Field Museum](/source/Field_Museum) in Chicago,[8] [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University)'s [Peabody Museum](/source/Peabody_Museum_of_Archaeology_and_Ethnology),[9] and other museums in the United States, Europe, and Japan.[3] Other totem poles stand outside [Juneau-Douglas High School](/source/Juneau-Douglas_High_School),[10] in Juneau's [Sealaska](/source/Sealaska) Building,[10] in [Totem Bight State Historical Park](/source/Totem_Bight_State_Historical_Park),[11] at the [Alaska Native Heritage Center](/source/Alaska_Native_Heritage_Center),[5] at [Saxman Totem Park](/source/Saxman_Totem_Park),[12] and at the [Totem Heritage Center](/source/Totem_Heritage_Center) in [Ketchikan](/source/Ketchikan).[13] One of the earliest examples of his totem poles was carved for the American Festival held at the Horniman Museum, London in 1985 and now stands in a commanding position in the Horniman Gardens.[14] In 1980, for the Juneau centennial, he was commissioned to carve the [Wooshkeetaan Kootéeyaa and Áakʼw Kootéeyaa](/source/Wooshkeetaan_Koot%C3%A9eyaa_and_%C3%81ak%CA%BCw_Koot%C3%A9eyaa).[13][15]

## Awards and honors

He is a recipient of a 1995 [National Heritage Fellowship](/source/National_Heritage_Fellowship) from the [National Endowment for the Arts](/source/National_Endowment_for_the_Arts),[3] a [Rasmuson Foundation](/source/Rasmuson_Foundation) Distinguished Artist Award (2009),[16][17] and a [United States Artists](/source/United_States_Artists) Fellow (2021).[18] He received an honorary doctorate in humanities from the [University of Alaska Southeast](/source/University_of_Alaska_Southeast).[3] In 2023, the Native American Art Studies Association awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award.[citation needed]

He is shown on the 1996 Raven Dance US postage stamp.[19][20]

In 2022, Sealaska Heritage Institute invited carvers to create kootéeyaa (totem poles) for the Totem Pole Trail in [Juneau, Alaska](/source/Juneau,_Alaska). Jackson and his son, known as [Jackson Polys](/source/Jackson_Polys), will carve two poles.[21]

## Personal life

Jackson currently resides in Ketchikan, Alaska.[22] His wife and son are also artists.[8]

## References

1. Pemberton, Jennifer (2021-07-31). ["Native-designed Raven Story postage stamp enters circulation with ceremony in Juneau"](https://www.ktoo.org/2021/07/30/native-designed-raven-story-postage-stamp-enters-circulation-with-ceremony-in-juneau/). *KTOO*. Retrieved 2026-04-17.

1. Orozco, Kimberly R. Fulton. ["How Native Artisans in Alaska Bring Innovation and Humor to Their Craft"](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/native-artisans-alaska-innovation-humor-craft-180976519/). *Smithsonian Magazine*. Retrieved 2026-04-17.

1. ["Nathan Jackson: Tlingit Alaska Native Woodcarver/Metalsmith/Dancer"](https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/nathan-jackson). *www.arts.gov*. [National Endowment for the Arts](/source/National_Endowment_for_the_Arts). n.d. Retrieved December 16, 2020.

1. ["Contemporary artists: Tlingit"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110429233939/http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/totems/contemporary/tlingit.php). [American Museum of Natural History](/source/American_Museum_of_Natural_History). Archived from [the original](http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/totems/contemporary/tlingit.php) on April 29, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.

1. Dunham, Mike (August 31, 2010). ["Tlingit 'peace' headpiece now in Juneau museum"](http://juneauempire.com/stories/083110/loc_702538776.shtml). *[Juneau Empire](/source/Juneau_Empire)*

1. Rennicke, Jeff (May–June 2008). ["Totem poles"](http://www.viamagazine.com/attractions/totem-poles). *Via*. AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah.

1. ["Kaats (depicting the story of a man who lived with a bear family)"](http://www.nmai.si.edu/searchcollections/item.aspx?irn=280007&catids=0&areaid=16&src=1-1&size=75&page=12). [National Museum of the American Indian](/source/National_Museum_of_the_American_Indian). Retrieved April 2, 2011.

1. ["Field Museum's new totem pole erected"](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17919655). *MSNBC.com (Associated Press)*. April 2, 2007.

1. ["NAGPRA in the Museum GalleriesNAGPRA in the Museum Galleries"](http://www.peabody.harvard.edu/node/313). [Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology](/source/Peabody_Museum_of_Archaeology_and_Ethnology). Retrieved April 2, 2011.

1. ["A list of local totem poles"](http://juneauempire.com/stories/082610/art_700570930.shtml). *[Juneau Empire](/source/Juneau_Empire)*. August 26, 2010.

1. ["Totem Poles at Totem Bight State Historical Park"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090206154118/http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/totempol.htm). Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. Archived from [the original](http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/totempol.htm) on February 6, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2011.

1. Holing, Dwight (February 22, 1987). ["Totems speak of another way"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0mUaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iCoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6877,4938021). *[Milwaukee Journal](/source/Milwaukee_Journal)*. p. H1.

1. Hilary Stewart (1993). [*Looking at totem poles*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WSueEr81v0IC&pg=PA183). Douglas & McIntyre. pp. 171, 183. ISBN 978-1-55054-074-1.

1. ["Other Horniman Sights to See"](https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/other-horniman-sights-to-see/). *Horniman Museum & Gardens*. n.d. Retrieved October 17, 2020.

1. Jonaitis, Aldona & Glass, Aaron (2010). [*The Totem Pole: An Intercultural History*](https://archive.org/details/totempoleintercu0000jona/page/n7/mode/2up). [University of Washington Press](/source/University_of_Washington_Press) and [Douglas & McIntyre](/source/Douglas_%26_McIntyre). pp. 197, 278. ISBN 978-0-295-98962-4.

1. Stalzer, Cassandra (May 15, 2009). ["Nathan Jackson receives $25,000 Distinguished Artist Award; Foundation Also Names Eight Fellows, 17 Project Grants"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110720174414/http://www.rasmuson.org/PressRelease/index.php?switch=view_pressrelease&iReleaseID=206). Rasmuson Foundation. Archived from [the original](http://www.rasmuson.org/PressRelease/index.php?switch=view_pressrelease&iReleaseID=206) on July 20, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.

1. Dunham, Mike (May 16, 2009). ["Rasmuson Grants are announced"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121004053407/http://www.adn.com/2009/05/16/798087/rasmuson-grants-are-announced.html). *[Anchorage Daily News](/source/Anchorage_Daily_News)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.adn.com/2009/05/16/798087/rasmuson-grants-are-announced.html) on October 4, 2012.

1. Zigmund, Dana (2021-02-03). ["Renowned Northwest Coast artist named USA Fellow"](https://www.juneauempire.com/news/renowned-northwest-coast-artist-named-usa-fellow/). *Juneau Empire*. Retrieved 2021-02-04.

1. ["Living people shown on U.S. stamps added to list"](https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamps-postal-history/living-people-shown-on-u.s.-stamps-added-to-list). June 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2021.

1. ["Evelyn Vanderhoop, Artist"](https://www.facebook.com/147777598621833/posts/back-in-1994-the-us-postage-service-contacted-me-to-ask-if-they-could-use-my-pai/1695630073836570/). *[Facebook](/source/Facebook)*. May 9, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2021.

1. Miller, Raegan (2 September 2022). ["Decorated Ketchikan carvers and apprentices work on totem poles to be raised in Juneau"](https://www.krbd.org/2022/09/02/decorated-ketchikan-carvers-and-apprentices-at-work-on-two-totem-poles-to-be-raised-in-juneau-next-year/). Rainbird Community Radio. Retrieved 23 November 2022.

1. ["Nathan Jackson receives $25,000 Distinguished Artist Award"](http://www.capitalcityweekly.com/stories/052009/new_442015051.shtml). *[Capital City Weekly](/source/Capital_City_Weekly)*. May 20, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2011.

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