Charlie Wright Yukon Men Today [Wiki/Bio]: Life, Career, Wife, son Bob Wright.

Charlie Wright is an Alaska Native subsistence provider, water plant operator, and community leader who gained national attention through the Discovery Channel series Yukon Men. Born in Fairbanks and raised in Rampart, he later moved to Tanana, where he continues to live and work.

Since the show ended in 2017, Wright has remained deeply involved in Indigenous leadership and local sustainability efforts. What has life been like for Charlie Wright since his time on television—and what about his son Bob Wright, who trained under him on the show? This article explores Charlie’s current role in tribal governance, his advocacy for salmon and food sovereignty, and how he’s helping pass on traditional knowledge to the next generation.

Early Life and Roots

Charlie Wright was born on September 2, 1968, in Fairbanks, Alaska, and moved at a young age—around 4 or 5 years old—to Rampart, where his mother Peggy Wright was originally from. Rampart is located in what locals refer to as the “canyon area,” a mountainous section along the Yukon River. The region is remote and accessible by river in the summer and by an ice road or snowmachine in the winter.

Charlie attended Maudrey J. Sommer School and graduated from Rampart High School. His early years were shaped by a subsistence-based lifestyle rooted in Alaska Native traditions. During his childhood, Rampart had a population of approximately 150 residents and more sled dogs than people. Dog teams served as the primary mode of transportation and were deeply woven into the cultural fabric of the community.

Raised in a salmon-dependent environment, Charlie learned early on the importance of stewardship and sustainability. His mother played a central role in preserving those values—emphasizing respect for the land, reliance on traditional food sources, and the communal responsibilities that came with living along the Yukon River.

He later moved to Tanana, continuing to live and work within the same Yukon River region that defined his upbringing.

A Working Life in Tanana and Community Leadership

Charlie trained as a certified water and sewer plant operator, a role he has held at various points over more than two decades in Tanana. In this role, he has maintained essential infrastructure in a remote environment, including water treatment systems, often under harsh weather conditions. He is also recognized for his mechanical skills and support of subsistence lifestyles within the village.

Over the years, Charlie has taken on growing leadership roles within the Alaska Native community. In March 2024, he was re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer of the Tanana Chiefs Conference Executive Board of Directors, a position he will hold through 2027.

His advocacy for Indigenous food sovereignty has grown alongside his leadership. In a 2022 address through the Tanana Chiefs Conference, Charlie emphasized that true sovereignty begins with the ability to manage local resources and pass down traditional knowledge. Drawing from firsthand experience, he spoke about learning to trap beaver from his uncles—reading lodge size and feed pile volume to determine sustainable harvests—and how lessons in stewardship began from the moment children could walk, talk, or, as he joked, “wipe their own butt.”

He described seasonal rhythms that define life along the Yukon: geese hunts in the spring, netting whitefish and drying king salmon in the summer, berry picking, gardening, and rendering bear grease in the fall, and trapping during the dark winter months. Each step in the cycle reinforces intergenerational knowledge-sharing, with elders teaching youth through action. He recalled how, as a child, his family would cut enough logs in one night to build a cabin for a neighbor in need—no money exchanged, just knowledge passed down and responsibility embraced.

Charlie also connected food to memory and healing. For instance, a pot of moose bone soup isn’t just nourishment—it brings back memories of his grandmother and the times they shared. These values, he said, are tied to identity and survival, especially as climate change, salmon shortages, and industrial bycatch continue to threaten Alaska Native lifeways.

As a commissioner with the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Charlie supports efforts to protect salmon populations and rebuild local food systems grounded in traditional practices. His ongoing work influences policies surrounding subsistence rights, cultural resilience, and ecological sustainability across the Yukon River corridor.

Television Career: Yukon Men

In 2012, Charlie joined the cast of Yukon Men, a Discovery Channel reality series focused on the lives of residents in Tanana. The show often documented Charlie’s dual role as a water plant operator and subsistence provider. Several episodes featured him working alongside his son Bob or maintaining Tanana’s essential infrastructure.

One episode, “Dog Days of Winter” (Season 7, Episode 7), showed Charlie and Stan Zuray working to restore the village’s water system during extreme cold. But perhaps one of the most unforgettable moments of the series came when Charlie recounted a harrowing brush with death on a frozen river.

He recalled riding his snowmachine across a small river when the ice gave way beneath him. Instantly submerged, Charlie found himself pinned under the machine with solid ice above him. As he struggled to surface, he repeatedly hit his head against the underside of the ice.

“I was on the bottom of the river with the snowmachine on top of me, on my back… I kept hitting my head on the ice underneath the water. I couldn’t come back out,” he said.

Realizing he was out of options, Charlie described a moment of surrender:

“I gave up to drown… and I relaxed. Then I felt the current pushing me, so I kicked down with the current—and I came out.”

After narrowly escaping, he built a fire on the riverbank to warm up. Remarkably, he then dove back into the icy water to retrieve his submerged snowmachine. After dragging it out, Charlie took the machine apart, managed to get it running, and eventually made it home.

“It took about three or four hours to get it running again, but we went home safe. We were lucky to live that day.”

Reflecting on the experience, he added:

“One little mistake is all it takes and you’re done… You just look the wrong way one day, and that’s it—you’re gone.”

Another storyline from the series showcased Charlie’s leadership and deep responsibility to the community during a critical shortage of king salmon. In the spring, with food supplies low after a long winter and king salmon fishing shut down by the State of Alaska, Charlie took it upon himself to seek an alternative. Despite the dangers of river breakup season—when the Yukon becomes a shifting maze of icebergs and debris—he set out to catch chum salmon, typically used as dog food, to help feed the village.

“My job is to just take care of my family and do the best I can for the village,” he explained.

Charlie also revealed how personal the river’s dangers were to him: “Friends I’ve lost in the river, stepfather I lost in the river, my brother-in-law lost in the river. It’s a powerful thing. Always hungry.”

With help from his daughter Tanisha, Charlie set a net in the Tanana River, hoping to bring home something for the town. But the catch was poor. The net came up nearly empty, forcing Charlie to return to town and break the difficult news. His position as a local leader meant many would look to him for guidance as the community searched for ways to replace their most reliable food source. Yukon Men aired from 2012 to 2017 across seven seasons.

Family and Passing on Traditions

Charlie and his wife Cheryl Wright have been married since 2003, as confirmed in a 2017 anniversary message shared by Cheryl’s sister, Clarissa Roberts. Robert “Bob” Wright, Charlie’s son from a previous relationship with April Jordan, is part of their blended family alongside Samantha Zuray (wife of Joey Zuray), Geneva Roberts (born March 18, 1997), and Teneisha Peratrovich.

Charlie has long emphasized the importance of passing down traditional knowledge, particularly to his children. His son Bob, who appeared on Yukon Men as a trainee trapper, is one of the most visible examples of this generational mentorship. Today, Charlie remains closely involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren, continuing to share both skills and values rooted in subsistence and cultural identity.

In March 2024, Charlie publicly celebrated Geneva’s birthday with a photo of her holding her infant child, reflecting his role as a grandfather and ongoing family involvement.

Next Generation: Bob Wright

Robert Charles Wright Jr., born on February 6, 1992, is the a key figure in continuing his family’s deep connection to subsistence life in Tanana. While employed by Doyon Drilling Inc.—an Alaska Native oilfield services company—Bob balances modern work with traditional practices like hunting, trapping, and fishing. When not working on the North Slope, he returns to Tanana to assist with the family fish wheel and other seasonal activities.

In addition to his work and subsistence involvement, Bob became a father in 2023. His son, Royce Wright, was born on January 28, 2023, to Bob and his partner Danielle Huntington. Royce spent his first Easter in Rampart, continuing the family’s legacy in the same region where generations of Wrights were raised.

Bob also gained public attention through his appearances on the Discovery Channel series Yukon Men, where viewers saw him learning and applying traditional survival skills under the guidance of his father. In one episode, he and Charlie were shown attempting to flush out a bear from its den—an intense and dangerous task that underscored the risks of subsistence hunting. In another segment, Bob was involved in a snowmobile wreck while navigating steep terrain, narrowly avoiding serious injury.

Bob also recounted a chilling experience while trapping with his uncle Shane: after a bear was caught in a wolf snare, it broke loose and charged him. Bob fired multiple rounds and ultimately stopped the grizzly just feet away from him. Though not captured on camera, the story served as a stark reminder of how quickly routine tasks can become life-threatening in the Alaskan wild.

Outside of hunting and trapping, Bob has also participated in cultural and community events. He served as a navigator in the Yukon 800 riverboat race, teaming up with his brother-in-law Joey Zuray, who is married to Bob’s sister Samantha.

Personal Resilience and Loss

In 2012, Charlie’s brother-in-law George Roberts died in a snowmachine accident during a ride along the Tanana River. As seen in the Yukon Men the Alaska State Troopers launched a coordinated search involving helicopters, inflatable rafts, and town volunteers. After 12 hours of searching, George’s body was recovered from the river, confirming the community’s worst fears.

The tragedy was attributed to a head injury sustained when the snowmachine struck an obstruction and flipped. Charlie and other family members described George as someone they grew up with and considered like a brother. His death was deeply felt across the village, where such losses carry profound communal weight. The event illustrated not only the emotional cost but also the ever-present dangers of life along the river in remote Alaska.

Legacy

As of 2025, Charlie Wright remains a respected figure in both Rampart and Tanana. He is viewed as an elder in his communities and continues to blend traditional living with leadership roles. Through his public service, advocacy, and mentorship, Charlie contributes to preserving Alaska Native heritage and ensuring the sustainability of life along the Yukon River.

Charlie Wright – Wiki/Bio Facts

Full Name	Charles “Charlie” Wright
Date of Birth	September 2, 1968
Age	56 years old
Place of Birth	Fairbanks, Alaska
Raised In	Rampart, Alaska
Current Residence	Tanana, Alaska
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Alaska Native (Athabascan)
Profession	Hunter, Trapper, Water Plant Operator, Community Leader
TV Show	Yukon Men (2012–2017)
Spouse	Cheryl Wright (m. 2003)
Former Partner	April Jordan (mother of Robert Wright)
Children	Robert “Bob” Wright (b. Feb 6, 1992), Samantha Zuray, Geneva Wright (b. Mar 18, 1997), Teneisha Wright
Known For	Yukon Men, subsistence advocacy, Indigenous leadership
Affiliations	Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Tanana Chiefs Conference
Key Issues Advocated	Salmon conservation, food sovereignty, Indigenous self-relianc