Fred Fulmer Tlingit Artist

My name is Fred Fulmer. My Mother is Tlingit from a village in Alaska called Hoonah.I was born 1958.My Tlingit name is Saał-Kaa which means “Named Great Man”. I’m from the Chookaneidee Clan, the Iceberg House or Glacier House. My mom’s people originated from Glacier Bay making me an Eagle/ Brown Bear.

My wife and I lived in Ketchikan from 1981-1987, during this time I got influenced by all the Totems and Native culture all around us. While attending Ketchikan Community College I watched Nathan Jackson carve 2 Totems for Sealaska there on campus. This is where my interest in carving began, and grew as I learned my Mom's Grandfather Frank St. Clair carved a Totem pole for the A’ak’w Kwa’an people during the CCC days called the Yak’te pole, which stands in front of the old Auke Bay village site.

I’ve enjoyed carving, sharing Tlingit culture through songs and dance and storytelling over the years and plan on continuing being a part of this rich heritage.