Q&A with Mike Wassilie of Yup’ik Creations
Storyknife, November/December 2025 edition
Mike Tanaaq Wassilie of Yup’ik Creations, a Calista Shareholder with ties to Nunapitchuk, is the Yup’ik carver of the Storyknife [Yaaruin in Yugtun] carving depicted on the Calista Shareholder newsletter. Wassilie is an artist born and raised in Anchorage who’s been carving full-time for 22 years.
He typically sells his artwork at the Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) twice a week June through August. He also sells at AFN, at the Charlette Jensen Native arts market for Fur Rondy, and the holiday bazaar at the ANHC on the first weekend of December. He does not sell online or via social media, he prefers to sell in-person.
Tell us about yourself and the inspiration behind your business.
My name is Mike Tanaaq Wassilie. My father, Moses Wassilie, is originally from Nunapitchuk. I was first introduced to artwork by seeing my father’s ivory earrings and attempting to replicate them on my own. Then, for a few years, I worked for my father by carving ivory jewelry. Once I was able to produce my own work, I began carving my own jewelry designs and selling my jewelry. I have since produced many different traditional and contemporary pieces of artwork using both natural and artificial materials, although usually I prefer to work with natural materials.
We must be restless in the adaptation to modern times while continuing our culture and traditions.
Mike Tanaaq Wassilie of Yup’ik Creations
What’s the story behind the storyknife in Calista’s newsletter?
I enjoy carving our traditional items including the Storyknife, using walrus ivory. The storyknife is a women’s item used to draw pictures in the mud, sand or snow which would include a story with the drawings to go with them yet would usually be carved by a man. These stories and our traditional carved items are important for the continuation of our culture.
This particular storyknife with the fish for the handle was an idea I had to make something a little different. Fish are not only delicious, they’re an important part of our culture and survival for many generations. For this reason, several of my designs I regularly produce and sell include fish or fish skins. We like to celebrate the importance and healthiness associated with salmon and other fish through artwork. The salmon must be restless while in the river, always fighting against the current. Just as we must be restless in the adaptation to modern times while continuing our culture and traditions.
What contributes to the success of your business?
My love of the work drives and inspires me the most. It shows in the finished pieces the level of thoughtfulness and devotion used to create it. Self-motivation is a huge factor in a sole proprietorship. The ability to motivate oneself and resist the temptation to slack off yet not overwork is very important.
Developing skills is also important. It takes time to develop skills and to produce items that will sell in the competitive Native arts markets. Producing unique and high-quality items makes it more likely for customers to purchase more in the future. Finding the right items in the right price range for the market is also important for success.
Adapting to changes to the market and producing new items and using different materials have also contributed to the success of my business. I just began using salmon skins and resin for my jewelry and they have proven to be very popular items.
Tell us how your business has grown.
The variety of items I can make and the different materials I have used has expanded dramatically since I began producing art and jewelry. This includes ivory jewelry and sculptures, masks, hunting tools, baleen baskets, fish skin & resin, stone cabochon, silversmithing, and of course, the storyknife. I don’t always have many of these items in stock, but they’ve all contributed to my growth as an artist. I typically choose to produce ivory and salmon skin & resin jewelry. Almost all of my work I sell directly to my customers at local Alaska Native crafts events and occasionally sell at the Alaska Native Medical Center craft shop.
How has your cultural heritage shaped your business?
Many of my ivory jewelry designs feature traditional Yup’ik designs. The designs and our culture are shared, celebrated and continued when customers purchase them. The masks I make are based on traditional design elements with my own personal style added. Seeing people’s excitement and emotional reaction to a piece is very satisfying. When I sell my artwork to the tourists who visit Alaska, I am able to share our culture with people from all over the world who can admire and celebrate it through wearing the jewelry. Much of my business is shaped by my cultural heritage.