Scroll down for information about Imaghamii and his work.
Leonard is a Siberian Yupik walrus ivory carver born in 1961 in the village of Gambell, AK on St. Lawrence Island. Leonard began carving at a young age and was encouraged and guided in the art of ivory carving by his uncle Paul Apangalook, a well collected ivory carver in his own right.
I would recommend checking out the Wikipedia article on St. Lawrence Island. It is truly a fascinating place.
“The island contains two villages: Savoonga and Gambell. The two villages were given title to most of the land on St. Lawrence Island by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. As a result of having title to the land, the Yupik are legally able to sell the fossilized ivory and other artifacts found on St. Lawrence Island. The island is now inhabited mostly by Siberian Yupik engaged in hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding. The St. Lawrence Island Yupik people are also known for their skill in carving, mostly with materials from marine mammals (walrus ivory and whale bone). The Arctic yo-yo may have evolved on the island.”
Leonard went to high school at Mt. Edgcumbe High School, a boarding school for native Alaskans here in Sitka, back in the 70's. Recently his daughter began attending the same school, so Leonard and his wife moved back to Sitka from Gambell to be closer to her and has continued making his beautiful work here. Leonard’s Siberian Yupik name is Imaghmii
I would recommend checking out the Wikipedia article on St. Lawrence Island. It is truly a fascinating place.
“The island contains two villages: Savoonga and Gambell. The two villages were given title to most of the land on St. Lawrence Island by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. As a result of having title to the land, the Yupik are legally able to sell the fossilized ivory and other artifacts found on St. Lawrence Island. The island is now inhabited mostly by Siberian Yupik engaged in hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding. The St. Lawrence Island Yupik people are also known for their skill in carving, mostly with materials from marine mammals (walrus ivory and whale bone). The Arctic yo-yo may have evolved on the island.”
Leonard went to high school at Mt. Edgcumbe High School, a boarding school for native Alaskans here in Sitka, back in the 70's. Recently his daughter began attending the same school, so Leonard and his wife moved back to Sitka from Gambell to be closer to her and has continued making his beautiful work here. Leonard’s Siberian Yupik name is Imaghmii
Due to the one-of-a-kind nature of our artists' work and frequent purchases, we may not have had a chance to post all of the currently available works. If you have any questions, comments, requests or would like to see some photos of more available pieces, please email us at [email protected], call us at (907) 747-6990 or click the button below and fill out the form. We will get back to you as soon as possible.