Welcome to Douglas Yates' on-line gallery featuring his artwork traditional to the Indigenous Peoples of Southeast Alaska. Douglas Yates is renown for hand-engraving his clan crest designs on copper for fine framed art. Douglas Yates framed copper artwork is displayed at the following offices:
- The Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator for Alaska, Washington, D.C. 2009
- The Honorable Sean Parnell, Governor of Alaska, Alaska Governor's Mansion, Juneau, Alaska 2010
- The Alaska State Capitol Building, Juneau, Alaska 2008
- The Honorable Miguel d'escoto Brockmann, 2009 President of the
General Assembly of the United Nations 2009
- The Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, Alaska 2007
- The Museum Shop at the Anchorage, Alaska Museum of History and Art 2009
indigenous peoples of southeast alaska pacific northwest coast
For more than ten thousand years Our People have thrived within the Clans (large extended families) we were born into, from our mother's lineage, in which we were given responsibilities to serve our family and community. This traditional family value proudly continues today. Our Clan crests serve as a symbol for transmitting our stories, history, wisdom and property from generation to generation. Clan crests were never worshipped, nor do they represent spirits, powers nor guides. Similar to the purposes of the family crests of Old Europe, our clan crests provide Our People with a tie to our land as a means of telling our histories and social systems. Our art reflects our birthplace, lineage and history.
artist profile
Douglas Yates is from the small fishing communities of Metlakatla and Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska. He is Tsimshian and Haida of the Killer Whale Clan. Inspiration for his artwork comes from his desire to perpetuate the rich cultural heritage and family values of the Indigenous Peoples of Alaska. He apprenticed as an artist under Tsimshian artist and cultural bearer, David Boxley, from Metlakatla, Alaska. Douglas Yates and his family reside in Southcentral Alaska.
