Charles Kokuluk

The late Charles Kokuluk, an Inupiaq Eskimo born on King Island November 15, 1940. He passed away on Nov. 12, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska. His parents were John Sr. and Barbara Kokuluk. Three of his brothers, Robert, John, and Hubert are ivory carvers.

Charles recalled that in 1952 his family moved from King Island to Nome because his father wanted his family to have access to a physician. Charles moved from Nome to Anchorage in 1989.

Although Charles felt a closeness to King Island, his trips ‘home’ became less frequent and usually occurred during walrus hunting. Also, due to erosion of land, King Island is now uninhabited year-round, but former residents and their descendants often make the journey to visit this special place.

Charles was incredibly skilled in carving walrus ivory, fossilized whalebone, and soapstone. However, he was known primarily as an ivory carver and concentrated his efforts on carving birds. He did several varieties of geese etched with black ink and is most recognized for his snow goose depicting their blue phase. In addition, he carved several varieties of ducks and loons. Occasionally he was known to carve and etch an oosik.