Jim was born in Juneau, Alaska in 1948. He grew up surrounded by the Tlingit culture and became aware of the importance of continuing his heritage. Schoppert first graduated from the University of Alaska and then received his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Washington (1981). Although Jim was Tlingit, a lot of his work is based on the Yup'ik (Eskimo) tradition, which he felt allowed imagination and innovation. His use of old and new ideas provided his work with a very unique style. Jim viewed the Northwest Coast design conventions not as rules, but as points of departure for his own visual exploration.

Schoppert did a large amount of teaching of Alaskan native arts and heritage in various school programs and native associations in Alaska. He died in 1992.