Goingback Chiltoskey (G.B.) was born near Cherokee, North Carolina, in 1907. He was named Goingback in honor of his grandfather, who had been forced to move west during the Trail of Tears. His grandfather missed his homeland so much that he spoke often of going back, and so became known as Goingback. Raised in a traditional family, G.B. did not encounter the English language until attending the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school. He completed high school at Parker High School in Greenville, SC, where he continued to develop his skills in woodcarving. Shortly afterwards he attended Haskell Instittue, a school for Indian students in Lawrence, KS, and then the American Indian Art Institute at Santa Fe, NM. In 1935, G.B. returned to Cherokee to begin the woodcarving and woodworking program at Cherokee High School. After service with Army Corps of Engineers in WWII fabricating models and terrain maps, he worked in Washington at Fort Belvoir continuing work in wood and metal. In 1966, he returned to Cherokee where he and his wife Mary, became and remain to this day, leaders in the arts, crafts, and education of the community. G.B. is a charter member of the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc. and his wood carvings have been exibited throughout the country. Mike Bowen of the Greenville News wrote in 1972, "Goingback Chiltoskey calls himself a woodcarver, but that is like calling Rembrant a paint-user."