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.

Ed Carriere preps a cedar limb.

Ed Carriere’s Fish Net Anchor Artifact Workshop at BARN

Ed Carriere and I enjoyed teaching together at BARN this May 5, 2018.

Suquamish Culture Carriers

Ed Carriere Recreates Salish Basketry From Ancient Fragments

Suquamish Elder Ed Carriere shares his story of recreating ancient Salish Sea Basketry from basket fragments found in Pacific Northwest wetsites.

Ed Carriere and Great-grandson Cody

Ed Carriere – Culture Carrier – June 9, 6:30 – 8, 2017

Suquamish Master Weaver Ed Carriere will open up the brand new Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network with his presentation.

Ed Carriere Culture Carrier, June 9, 2017

Ed Carriere Suquamish Master Weaver will give a program June 9, 2017 at 6:30pm at BARN.

Lessons Learned Through Weaving

Dawn Walden teaches us a thing or two about Mad Weave.

Suquamish Museum Presentation

Katie Jennings, filmmaker, presents her films.

Cedars Become Teachers

We did a little cedar thinning for our generous neighbors today. Ready for class tomorrow!

Cedar Limb Weir

Traditional Fishing Weir

Ed Carriere has made the largest open-twined cedar root and limb basket I’ve come across.

Suquamish Master Weaver Ed Carriere

Clam Basket – A Story By Ed Carriere

After decades of dreaming, and two years in the making, this story has found a beautiful way to be told.

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Recent Posts

  • Bloedel Reserve Residency Notes #2
  • Bloedel Reserve Residency Notes #1
  • Spring – It’s on the Way
  • Water Is Life – A Song Worth Hearing
  • Suquamish Elder Ed Carriere is a 2023 National Heritage Fellow

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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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