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.

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.

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.

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Recent Posts

  • Local History – Interview With Barbara Ann Lawrence – Suquamish Tribal Cultural Teacher and Storyteller
  • Porch Papermaking With Food Plants – Cardoon and Kale
  • Paper from the Ditch – Weathered Reed Canary Grass
  • Late Winter Papermaking – Mixing Siberian Iris Leaves and Lichens
  • More Spring Porch Papermaking – With Ivy Leaves

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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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