Clifton Bates

Clifton Bates was born in Seattle. He went to work at fourteen and continued with various labor type jobs for many years in order to eventually make his way through the University of Washington, achieving a B.A. in Art, a B.A. in English, a teaching and an administrative certificate, and a master's degree in language arts education with an emphasis on cross-cultural education.

He moved to Alaska in 1977 and for the next thirty-five years, was involved in Alaska Native education as a teacher, school district administrator, and university professor.

He wrote and produced with Alaska Public Television, KYUK, "Somebody's Taking Pictures", an historical documentary aired statewide and dedicated to the people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

His play, Witnesses, with Yup'ik characters on the Kuskokwim River was presented on stage at the Playwrights Showcase of the Western Region in Denver, Colorado.

With the Very Rev. Dr. Michael Oleksa, he co-authored Conflicting Landscapes, American Schooling/Alaska Natives. This text remains the definitive resource for educators working with Alaska Native students.

His book "Like Painted Kites & Collected Works" contains stories, poetry, drama, essays, and drawings (mostly concerning Asia and Alaska), all of which have been published in various venues in Alaska, the US, as well as England, France, Malaysia, and Germany.

Sky Changes On the Kuskokwim is his latest book; a novel about a Yup'ik man growing up on the Kuskokwim River in western Alaska.

He currently resides in Chugiak, Alaska.