Shishmaref sits on a remote barrier island on the Chukchi Sea, surrounded by vast, untamed Arctic wilderness. In this small island village, tradition lives on in the artwork of the Inupiaq community.  In Shishmaref, many of the 550 residents learn to carve as children by watching family members work walrus ivory, whale baleen, fossilized whalebone and mastodon teeth and tusks from the nearby glaciers and sea.

Best known for their fossilized whalebone carvings, Shishmaref sculptures are collected by art enthusiasts worldwide. Carvings mostly depict traditional village life, including hunting, fishing, drumming and dancing.  These sculptures are often embellished with baleen, the black plates found in whale jaws, and ivory inlay.  The carvers of Shishmaref are mostly men, but the village women are also renowned for their skill as skin sewers and exquisite beaders.  From elaborate dolls to gloves and slippers, their work incorporates numerous locally harvested natural materials. 

Known as Alaska's friendliest village, Shishmaref offers visitors a true Alaskan experience. Visitors can stay at Dennis Sinnok’s apartment, which offers the comforts of home and a connection to the local artists he represents at national art shows. And this small town does not slow down when the temperatures drop; the winter season brings out the snow machines for trips down to the Serpentine Hot Springs, an adventure not to be missed! For more information, contact the Shishmaref Native Corporation.