Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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My Teachers

Since time immemorial Indigenous cultures all over the world have gathered, refined, and passed forward their Traditional Ecological Knowledge through practicing their traditional arts, including plant fiber technologies such as weaving. Passing forward earth sciences and cultural knowledge in such a way is part of the oral tradition. Unlike the modern industrial culture of today, the oral traditions come with the understanding and point of view of reciprocity, inclusion, and personal relationships.

Weaving with plant fibers is a living art form. Nothing I write or share in this website can substitute for a relationship with a Living Master at their craft. I implore you, if you are interested in learning anything well, please look, and find a Living Master near you. Or travel to them if you can. I think about the knowledge I've been given as a tree. My teachers and my own ancestors are the roots and sap, my origins.  My family and community are strength of the trunk, which supports me in every way. My students, and their students, are the branches and the seeds. We are all part of a forest of living knowledge.

Water Is Life – A Song Worth Hearing

A song by Oliver Enjady and Lyla June. I hope you can listen.

Suquamish Elder Ed Carriere is a 2023 National Heritage Fellow

We who know Ed Carriere, have always seen him as a treasured teacher and an encyclopedia of traditional ecological knowledge. But now he will truly be honored as a 2023 National Heritage Fellowship Recipient.

Living Teachers, Living Landscapes, Living Students

A few thoughts after a long pause from writing to you.

Clusters of Big Leaf Maple Flowers

Food Along the Trail – Big Leaf Maple Flower Fritters

Elise Krohn and Sable Bruce, of GRuB & Gather, Tend & Grow, have generously shared a delicious recipe during their presentation to the South Sound Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.

Harvest Basket

Weaving Nature Workshop Fall 2022 at BARN

Hello again. I’m still here and I hope you are too! Are you interested in learning how to respectfully and sustainably gather, prepare, store and utilize fibers from the plants and trees that grow in the communities we are a part of?

Weaving Words – 1990 Suquamish-Indianola Oral Histories

Listen to the Suquamish-Indianola 1990 Storytellers tell about recollections of people, places and life experiences growing up in Indianola during the first half of the 20th century.

Ed Carriere’s Residency at Bloedel Reserve

Had a lovely visit with Suquamish Elders Ed Carriere and Marilyn Wandrey at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Walking to the studio-image by Claire Dibble

Land Acknowledgement 2020

Land Acknowledgement 2020 I acknowledge that I reside on the traditional territory of the Suquamish Peoples, People of the Clear Salt Water, whose ancestors have lived here from time immemorial, preserving the land and waters that five generations of my own family have benefitted from. I express my deepest respect and gratitude for all indigenous […]

Darlene Peters S’Klallam Cultural Teacher & Weaver

Gratitudes For the Cedar Exhibit at Heronswood

My gratitude speech notes from the March 9th reception at the Heronswood Garden House Exhibit.

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Recent Posts

  • Spring – It’s on the Way
  • Water Is Life – A Song Worth Hearing
  • Suquamish Elder Ed Carriere is a 2023 National Heritage Fellow
  • Our Sacred Obligation – A Story Worth Spreading
  • Basketry Program at BARN-Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

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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

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