Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

Growing, gathering, and weaving with plant fibers from the Pacific Northwest

Local History – Interview With Barbara Ann Lawrence – Suquamish Tribal Cultural Teacher and Storyteller

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Barbara Ann Lawrence is a Suquamish culture carrier. I am blessed when our paths cross in the many ways they do through our work, families and friendship. I consider her one of my precious teachers. I’m sharing an interview with Barbara here because she is a participant in many of the positive things going on in the Suquamish community today. Her … [Read more...]

Ed Carriere Receives the National Heritage Fellowship Award in September 2023

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Ed Carriere has been working steadily for eight decades keeping Suquamish weaving traditions alive. I’ve always known him to be a unique and talented individual, a good friend, and a teacher. One of the lessons I carry from knowing Ed is that a love for learning can take you places you never dreamed possible. I am so happy Ed Carriere is being … [Read more...]

Weaving Words – 1990 Suquamish-Indianola Oral Histories

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Weaving Words - 1990 Suquamish-Indianola Oral Histories Thirty years ago, some White land owners from the community where I live attempted to block the sale of land to the Suquamish Tribe. For most of time, this land was known to be a part of Traditional Suquamish Territory, so the Tribe persisted and eventually purchased enough land in Indianola … [Read more...]

Ed Carriere’s Residency at Bloedel Reserve

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It was a delight to spend a sunny afternoon this March visiting Suquamish Master Weaver and Cultural Teacher, Ed Carriere, during his Artist in Residency at the Bloedel Reserve. Suquamish Elder, Marilyn Wandrey, Ed’s younger cousin, explored the native woodland landscape on Bainbridge Island that surrounds the beautiful house where Ed is … [Read more...]

About Melinda

Forty years ago, while sitting on the beach playing with my young children, I made my first basket out of a pile of willow trimmings someone had tossed there. It looked wildly made like a crazy bird’s nest. While being together with my two sons on a beautiful Pacific Northwest shoreline, this simple experience of crafting with the natural materials at hand kindled a passion for creating forms using plant fibers. I thank my family, my community, and all my teachers for cultivating this gift in me.
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Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA