Nathan Jackson (born August 29, 1938)[1] is an Alaska Native artist. He is among the most important living Tlingit artists[2] and the most important Alaskan artists.[3] He is best known for his totem poles, but works in a variety of media.
Jackson belongs to the Sockeye clan on the Raven side of the Chilkoot Tlingit.[1] As a young adult, he served in the military in Germany, and then became involved in commercial fishing. While ill with 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 in Santa Fe, 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.[1]
He is shown on the 1996 Raven Dance US postage stamp.[16][17]
In 2022, Sealaska Heritage Institute invited carvers to create kootéeyaa (totem poles) for the Totem Pole Trail in Juneau, Alaska. Jackson and his son, known as Jackson Polys, will carve two poles.[18]
Jackson currently resides in Ketchikan, Alaska.[19] His wife and son are also artists.[6]