Bill J. Wilson was Tlingit Chief of the Choo Ka Na Dee Clan. He was born at Dundas Bay, Alaska in his parent's fishing camp. Raised in Hoonah, where he was a fisherman, trapper and hunter all of his life, he learned the art of carving totem poles and engraving bracelets from his father, Jacob. In the 1940's, with the encouragement of his wife Elsie, he began to take his engraving seriously and his pieces became highly sought after by national dignitaries such as Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower. Mr. Wilson has since passed away but his art continues
to live on through our collection.