A few years ago I was talking to my son about working back in Alaska. He use to manage a program called Alaska Native Voices. ANV is focused on the visitors that come to Glacier Bay on Cruise ships during the tourist season. Mid April - early October. The focus is on the Xuna/Hoonah Tlingits whose Ancestral Homeland of Glacier Bay Alaska. I looked into this program which is a subsidiary of Hoonah Totem Corporation. I realized that I have been preparing for this type of employment throughout my life, since I have been a part of Alaska style dance groups over 30+ years and have been the spokesperson of a couple of them as well. I do some storytelling, Language and being a Tlingit artist/carver and formline kind of rounds it off. I see myself as being a Cultural Bearer and a Tlingit elder.
Before coming to work in Glacier Bay for ANV, I was already working on cruise ships with my wife living on them and being employed as a independent contractor- Tlingit ambassador. What I would do on these ships is do power point presentations , carving demonstrations of Tlingit masks, teach Tlingit songs and dance, and Tlingit language as well. We wore our tlingit Regalia and go out on the bow of these ships when we were in the Glacier fields visiting a Glacier. We took our drum with us sang a few songs, answered questions, and availed ourselves to taking pictures with the passengers as well. We/ My wife Ivy Fulmer and I would also wear our regalia when going to breakfast and dinner etc. This way more people got to know us, an opportunity to hand out business cards etc. again answer more questions and photo with the passengers.
Fred & Ivy Fulmer aboard the Celebrity Solstice as Tlingit Ambassadors on an Alaskan cruise
Fred & Ivy Fulmer In Regalia at the Glacier
Ivy and I had a good time working on these cruise ships throughout the years. It was an eye opener when we did our first cruise. It was confusing and exciting at the same time. We carried enough luggage for 4-5 people. All our regalia, carving material and tools. Along with our display added up to more than what a passenger would bring. We even had a 4ft tall Tlingit Devilfish mask I carved out of old growth red cedar and the crew would bring it to all the areas we would be presenting Tlingit culture and obviously when doing carving demonstrations. That large Tlingit mask was my Mona Lisa and I would cringe as they would pack it up and bring it to us. I didn't want it to get banged up or dents or pieces broken.
Learn how the Chookaneidee earned the right to use the Devilfish as one of our clan crests.
Carving Demonstration - 4ft Devilfish Mask Left Side
Shop Ivy's Drums
13in Contemporary Lion Hand Drum By Ivy Fulmer
10 inch Bigfoot Contemporary Hand Drum by Ivy Fulmer
17" Contemporary Hand Butterfly Drum By Ivy Fulmer
13in Dragon Hand Drum
15" Hummingbird Painted Drum
13in Tlingit Dragonfly Hand Drum Collaboration
Follow along with my journey as a Tlingit artist, carver, and Cultural Bearer — I have documented over 933 videos of my experiences, carvings, and cultural presentations on YouTube, YouTube channel: Fred Fulmer Tlingit Artist.
