Goingback Chiltoskey facts for kids

Goingback Chiltoskey (born April 20, 1907 – died November 12, 2000) was a famous woodcarver and model maker. He was a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a Native American tribe. Many people consider him one of the best Cherokee woodcarvers from a time when crafts became popular again.

Early Life and Education

Goingback Chiltoskey was born in 1907. His birth name was James Goingback Chiltoskie. He grew up in a place called Piney Grove, which is part of the Qualla Boundary. This area is home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

After a challenging time at a boarding school, Goingback went to school in Greenville, South Carolina. In 1929, he studied carpentry at the Haskell Institute in Kansas. He also learned how to make jewelry in the 1930s at the Santa Fe Indian School.

Career as an Artist and Teacher

Goingback Chiltoskey taught woodworking at Cherokee High School from 1935 to 1940. During World War II, he used his skills to help the United States Army. He made wooden models at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. These models were important for planning and training.

After the war, he continued to share his knowledge. He taught woodworking to soldiers who had returned from the war. He also created models for movies and for architects who design buildings.

Goingback was a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild starting in 1948. This group helps promote traditional crafts. He also helped start the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual cooperative. This group helps Cherokee artists sell their work. Interestingly, he was also a champion at using a blowgun. He taught his niece, Amanda Crowe, some of his woodcarving skills. She later became a well-known sculptor too.

Family Life and Legacy

In 1956, Goingback Chiltoskey married Mary Ellen Ulmer. She was also a teacher at the Cherokee School. Mary learned to speak the Cherokee language. She even taught Cherokee language classes. She also wrote several books about Cherokee culture with her husband.

Goingback Chiltoskey spoke Cherokee, but he could not read or write it. His brother, Watty Chiltoskie, could read, write, and speak the language. Watty helped Mary Ulmer Chiltoskey with her 1972 book, Cherokee Words with Pictures.

Goingback Chiltoskey passed away in 2000 at the age of 93. He died just one month after his wife, Mary.

Today, you can find recordings and interviews about Goingback and Mary Chiltoskey. These are kept in special collections at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You can also see Goingback Chiltoskey's artwork in museums. Some of his pieces are in the North Carolina Museum of Art. Others are in the National Museum of the American Indian.