Chuck Poupart is a proud Chippewa breed of the great nomadic (hunting and fishing) tribe of Ojibwa people of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Northern Wisconsin; a land of many lakes and bountiful forests; Algonquin paradise!

Born to Charles and Delores Poupart on December 19, 1951, Chuck was destined to a life of many tribulations from the beginning of his existence.

After his father, Charles, had been discharged from military service, he had rejoined his family, which then consisted of only Chuck and his mother, back on the Lac du Flambeau reservation. The United States government offered Charles an opportunity, as they did of many Chippewas during that period, to leave the reservation with government assistance. The government was to have helped pay for his relocation and job training. However, since Charles had only an 8th grade education and knew little of anything (other than fishing, hunting, and trapping), construction labor work was all that Charles could obtain. So, the family wandered from one state to another for several years, chasing a living in the construction trade.

Finally, in 1957, the wandering ended, Charles and his family (now, with an additional three girls to feed), settled in Stockton, California. Unfortunately, because of the unstable nature of construction work, the family, consequently, continued to move around within the city of Stockton for a few more years.

Eventually though, some stability came after Charles and his family moved to an area called the 'Sierra Vista' district, located in south Stockton, and he was able to obtain a job with the San Joaquin County Road Works.

South side Stockton, at that time, was (and still remains), predominately, an Afro-American neighborhood. The fact of living among the black people was of little concern to Charles, because prejudice was not an issue with him. However, during those days, turmoil among the races were running rampant, so Chuckie (as he was called, then) was forced to constantly fight for his rights, respect, and his life, from every race of people and culture!

Through it all, the family continued the struggle and two more children were born, which were a girl and another boy. Unfortunately, the boy (Edward) was born with a major handicap, Hydrocephalus, (or, "Water-on-the-Brain", as some prefer to call it). Because of this, and other negative situations arising within the Poupart family, Charles could no longer bear the stresses; therefore, he started becoming abusive toward his oldest son, Chuck. When the abuse would start getting too far out of hand, Charles would come to that realization and agree (with Delores) to return Chuck to the reservation, so every thing could have a chance to mellow out again.

With these circumstances, along with a multitude of others that he had been encountering to this point, Chuck's young mind was extremely confused. In order to counter those numerous negative feelings that seemed to plague him, Chuck realized that there is an outlet for him. In fact, it had a soothing effect on him and could occupy his lonelier times with positive effect, instead of negative ones, so he then turned to art!

Chuck would draw anything and everything that he may see or think about, his drawing skills began showing a tremendous amount of improvement, and drawing had become the ultimate route for him to escape from his harsh realities.

On the reservation, after fishing, hunting, trapping, or attending school during the day, Chuck would spend the remainder of his days at the home of an old man and women, George and Mary Sharlow.

Mary and George would have Chuck draw pictures of what he'd seen or done on that day and, if nothing would come to mind, they would have him draw from an old Sears's catalogue.

Chuck began admiring the works of other artisans; an uncle carving totems, aunts and cousins doing bead work, and others carving fish and duck decoys for hunting and spearing!

He began paying closer attention to the details of all that he would see, whether it be of an ant, a bear, of petals on a tiny flower, or leaves on a towering tree; he would take notes or sketch details as he would see or remember them.

Chuck's parents didn't realize the depth of which he was getting with art until a finger painting was submitted to the San Joaquin County Student's Art Show (held annually). It had been submitted by his 4th grade teacher, which won the 1st Place Blue Ribbon prize. Then, later, his 7th grade art teacher submitted a plaster carving that took 2nd place.

By then, no positive encouragement was necessary, because Chuck had reached puberty with a vengeance and the only thing that he had come to cherish in life, was art. Little else mattered to him. Chuck's addiction to art, was now full blown, and nothing was going to prevent him from doing what he loved.

In school, he received A's in art, B's and C's in science, English, and history, and D's and F's in mathematics, because he believed that basic math was all that he would need in his future.

Eventually, he became restless and bored with the ways of which he was being taught in school, feeling that they were ineffective and slow in their methods of teaching. The history classes taught their negative views of Native Americans, so he began denying his heritage. And, the black and Hispanic students were viewing him as being only a white boy, therefore, Chuck had to fight nearly every day, even though he didn't understand why it had to be that way. He was usually forced to fight before school, during school, or after school, and sometimes twice in a

day and against more than one opponent. Consequently, because he was fighting so much in school, Chuck was now as equally skilled in his fighting abilities as was he with his abilities in drawing!

Eventually, with the abuse, the swaying academic interest, and the continual violence of which he had to constantly endure, the inevitable did happen.

Chuck's pain and confusion was converting itself into a furious rage. From this point on, he began dropping out and fighting against anything (or, anybody) that brought him any further pain or confusion.

Before long, the turmoil of which he felt and was now expressing through his uncontrollable actions, landed him into a juvenile detention facility on several occasions. Ultimately, his anger lead to permanent expulsion from school as well, which placed him into the Stockton Continuation School. However, Stockton Continuation School, as it turned out, was a blessing to him.

Since the students of Continuation were more similar to himself in thought and mannerism, no matter what their race, he got along well with everyone. As for the school itself, he was now only required to attend for four hours each day, was taught just basic academics with somewhat of a self-pacing method of teaching program, and because of all this, school was actually becoming enjoyable to him.

Additionally, from that school, there came a very special person into his life, Miss Barbara Payne, his art teacher, which made going to school even more enjoyable.

You see, prior to his expulsion and placement into Continuation, Chuck's parents had seperated. Charles had returned to the reservation, alone, while Delores moved the family ten miles north of down town Stockton, to the 'Marada Lane' district. So, if Chuck wanted to attend school, and since there was no transportation available for him during that period, he would have to hitchhike (the ten miles) to and from school each day. Because of this problem, Barbara offered a proposal for Chuck to ponder.

Barbara began explaining that Chuck was further advanced than she was in art, therefore, it would be to her advantage for him to assist her in teaching the other students. So, if he would agree to assist her during his morning class, he would be allowed the entire second half of each day, to do as he pleases, in art. Additionally, she explained that she was living north of Chuck's residents, which means that she must pass by his house in order to get to the school, so she could drive him to and from school every day. Chuck appreciated Barbara's proposal and accepted it with an enormous amount of gratitude.

Though he had gained much and was doing well in Stockton Continuation School, things still weren't right at the home front for Chuck, so he was continuing to find himself getting into trouble with the law, usually in regards to him being so out-of-control of his parents. There finally came a point where a judge gave him an ultimatum, California Youth Authority, or the United States Army? Needless to say, Chuck's answer to this ultimatum was to join the United States Army, rather than to accept incarceration, so he said his good-byes and joined the Army.

San Fransisco, California was where he was sent for his induction into the Army, then on to Fort Lewis, Washington for his 'basic training'. Basic training was rather enjoyable to him because of the physical challenges that were presented; he had come to enjoy

But, a question arose within that seventeen-year-old mind of his that sincerely troubled him and it was one that the Army wouldn't, or couldn't answer him, no matter important he had considered it. The question of which he was referring: "Why are we fighting in Viet Nam?"

Consequently, due to the attitude and lack of response to his question, Chuck started bucking the system once again. Then, after earning numerous court marshals and a bit over two years in various military stockades, he was discharged from military service.

He was given a 'General Under Honorable Conditions Discharge', since he was said to have a problem with people of authority and lacked the ability to take orders from such people.

(Psychological evaluations were made prior to this discharge and those reports stated that these behavioral problems were, likely, stemming from his cultural background, dysfunctional family situation, as well as the overall environment of which he was reared).

Immediately after his discharge, Chuck returned to his nomadic and rather violent lifestyle, jumping from state to state and with his continuous fighting, jail to jail. This went on for approximately two years, then another major situation was dealt him; thus, a new era of his life was about to begin

In 1973, while hanging out in Stockton, Chuck confronted five men that were threatening to end his life; he was then imprisoned for Voluntary Manslaughter, because he had shot two of them, killing one!

Chuck was considered a transient by the court, therefore viewing him as being a high risk factor. The presiding judge, after taking this and other pertinent information into consideration, sentenced Chuck to be incarcerated for not less than one year and not more than fifteen, in the California State Prison System. While there, he began drawing, again!

Prison wasn't as hard as he'd imagined it would be, so it didn't take long for Chuck to adjust and settle down to prison routine. Prior to entering the gate of the Vacaville State Prison, he had already decided that he would cut out the negative aspects of his life. In fact, immediately upon his arrival at the prison, he began the hard task of re-evaluating himself.

Once he'd finished going through the evaluation process at Vacaville, he was then transported to Jamestown State Prison, where he would do the remainder of his sentence.

While incarcerated at Jamestown, he had gotten involved with several self-improvement groups. Chuck also went to the prison's school for brush up courses and was chosen to be a librarian for the 'Group for Spiritual Awareness', which was a convict created program for those desiring positive change in their lives. As importantly, he began realizing and respecting his own heritage once more and began hanging out with many, spiritually orientated Native Americans again. His self-confidence was building up momentum, and his personality was taking on more positive traits; Chuck was becoming a man!

One day, while just loafing around on the prison yard with several friends, Chuck dug up a small stone and scratched it with his fingernail. Noticing that his fingernail easily scratched the stone, he searched out an old rusty nail, flattened the point of it with a hard rock, and then sharpened it on the cement walkway.

Using that Flattened nail as a chisel, he began sculpting this small stone into the form of a human head. Upon completing his project and seeing that a great many people were admiring his work, Chuck realized that this was the beginning of his new career!

When ever there was construction work within the prison compound, having excavated ground, Chuck would seek out any stones that could be sculpted and store them in his locker until he could begin sculpting them. The stones were considered contraband by the prison staff, so they would be confiscated when ever found by the guards during contraband searches, which could be carried out several times per week. With the prison Chaplain's assistance and after a long fought battle with the authorities, Chuck was, proudly, the first to obtain official permission to sculpt stone within the California State Prison System. This opened a new source of opportunity for other inmates throughout the system, as well.

After three years of incarceration, Chuck was released from prison in 1976. Unlike his release from military service, Chuck left California immediately and returned to Seattle, where he completed his three-year parole term without incident.

Chuck continued his quest to become a professional stone sculptor. Then, while working for an ivory carving firm in downtown Seattle, he had the privilege to meet his first professional stone sculptor, Eddie Omnik!

Eddie Omnik is an Eskimo from Point Hope, Alaska, who had been sculpting Soapstone for Leonard Porter, the owner of the ivory carving firm of which Chuck was working. Chuck and Eddie had much in common, which created a great friendship between the two of them.

After noticing Chuck's natural talent as being of higher quality than most, Eddie began teaching him the basics in becoming a professional stone sculptor. Chuck felt that he was finally on his way to reaching his goal of being a professional stone sculptor.

Chuck learned a lot from Eddie's tutorial and began meeting other stone sculptors and ivory carvers, taking in all that they had to offer as well.

Chuck had the privilege and honor of knowing, learning, and working with such people as: Pat Messina, Leon Anderson, Ben Saclemente, Harry Apodruk, John Aluruk, Anton, and Glen Tinguk, to name a few!

(Unfortunately, the majority of these artists have died, but Chuck will always honor their names and their spirit, keeping all of them close to his heart).

After these and many other useful experiences, good or bad, Chuck has learned much in life, and has become a better person because of it. Though he is still unable to live his life in a manner more suitable to societies way, he lives harmoniously with all people and does his best to be of help to anyone in need. He loves people and loves to be loved! However, nature and art still remains to be his greatest love.

In isn't unusual for Chuck to be found wandering the forests, or strolling along streams and rivers, whether it is day or night, winter or summer! The majestic mountains, even with its many dangers, are considered home to him, and all its inhabitants are Chuck's closest and dearest friends.

People have witnessed Chuck in the wild, petting deer, while others have seen him walk up to wolves, eagles, bears, and badgers, conversing with them, appearing as though the animals could understand his words. Chuck has rescued numerous animals, wounded, trapped, or lost, from their perils, with a high percentage survival rates, and then returning them to their natural habitats.

Chuck continues to hunt and fish, but remains to hold a great deal of love, respect, and admiration for all of Mother Earth's creatures, taking only what he needs and always giving silent thanks for what he does take. It seems as though animals have a sense of Chuck's intentions and react, appropriately, to what that intention may be.