Koichi Sakamoto on "Shogun’s Ninja"

"Passing on anything that it is I learned becomes more and more important every year that goes by."

Welcome Kiliii Yüyan:

We’re joined on the Starline by one of the most empathetic explorers around. His photography has won awards, he has survived a polar bear on the hunt and charmed sea snakes. He’s out on tour talking about the “Life on Thin Ice” as a National Geographic explorer. We welcome Kiliii Yüyan.

Kiliii, let’s go Beyond the Mic as a photographer of wild places, things and people, you’ve immersed yourself in the world. Why is your heritage so important to you?

How important is preserving Indigenous history and your heritage to you?

When you embed yourself in an Indigenous community you spend weeks building trust. How hard is it for you to leave after contributing to their membership?

Do you communicate them after you leave?

When you are out on a shoot how does communicating with your own family change?

The Rockin' 8:

It’s time for the Rockin’ 8, 8 random questions, answer with the first thing that comes to your mind. There is no Pressure.

1. How many kayaks have you built and do you still have your 1st one?

2. Where is the one place you haven’t visited you still want to?

3. Do you have different nicknames from different tribes or a nickname that has stuck?

4. You’re known for your grin, why was the last time you frowned?

5. Favorite photograph of yours that people haven’t seen yet?

6. Favorite type of whale?

7. Last thing you either hunted or fished?

8. What’s your typical meal on the road and at home?

The Back Half:

How has the way you see the world change after floating under the sea and under ice?

“The greatest thing– the only thing – to sustain an artist, is the work itself.” What does it mean for you when youth embrace your work and gets a spark of inspiration from your life?

How has the way you grow relationships changed from when you 1st started?

Speaking of starting 1st, how do you go from a BHA in design, metaphysics and cognition to being an award winning photographer?

“The world is full of stories. But how many of these stories don’t just tell us what we already know”. I want to know your favorite story.

Learning:

Who taught you how to first build a Kayak and how important is it for you to pass it on?

Who helped you become a better photographer then?

Why is storytelling important to you and to your future?

Where is the place where you learned the most?

The indigenous people were originally isolated by circumstances. Are they now somewhat isolated by design and how does technology change their isolation?

I know you don’t have a bucket list. But what is the one story you haven’t tackled yet?

One Big Question:

“Sea ice is the basis for life in the Arctic, but those who weren’t raised in the North are hard-pressed to understand how the ice is changing.” What is the future problems that face the people of the Arctic?

When people see your talk “Life on Thin Ice”, what’s the thing you want them to take from it?

The Wrap:

He’s doesn’t have a bucket list and always eats ramen on the road. Out on tour talking about the “Life on Thin Ice” as a National Geographic explorer. Where can people find you online?

Kiliii Yüyan thanks for taking the time to talk to us today.

And that my friends is Beyond the Mic.