In recent times studies in the field of neuroscience are explaining what weavers all around the world have always known. Weaving can be a healing and calming practice. What else about our world have traditional cultures known all long that only in recent times is being acknowledged and supported by science? This section is where I list sources of inspiration: favorite books, links to blogs, articles, films and other resources I hope you may find useful. It is a work in progress.
Teaching Resources -
The 1990 Suquamish-Indianola Storytelling Project - Oral history audio recordings of growing up in Indianola, Washington, from early to mid 20th century as told by Suquamish and white residents. Produced by Jan Cyr & Paul Kikuchi. Copyright Suquamish Museum.
Hear the Suquamish-Indianola 1990 Stories
Lessons created by a consortium of Washington State Tribes for use in K-12. The Sovereignty Curriculum from the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction: https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/resources-subject-area/time-immemorial-tribal-sovereignty-washington-state
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Washington Native Plant Society
Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network - Also known as BARN, has developed a basketry program within their Fiber Arts Studio, featuring a variety of outstanding basketry teachers since 2014. Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the 2020 workshops were cancelled. Please check the BARN Fiber Arts Studio Calendar for information about many innovative workshops being offered now virtually and in person.
Public Art -
Seattle Waterfront Installation 2024 - Artbeat Seattle New Permanent Artwork
Books -
Mapes, Lynda V, THE TREES ARE SPEAKING - DISPATCHES FROM THE SALMON FORESTS, U of W Press, Seattle, 2025.
Carriere, Ed and Dale R. Croes, PH.D., RE-AWAKENING ANCIENT SALISH SEA BASKETRY - FIFTY YEARS OF BASKETRY STUDIES IN CULTURE AND SCIENCE, Northwest Anthropology, Richland, WA, 2017.
Carriere, Ed Eugene and Dale R. Croes, “LIVING-OFF-THE-LAND” FOR 4,000 YEARS ON THE SALISH SEA, Journal of Northwest Anthropology Memoir 25, Richland, WA, 2025.
Lincoln, Leslie, COAST SALISH CANOES, Center For Wooden Boats, Seattle, WA, 1991, reprinted 2025.
Sheldrake, Merlin, ENTANGLED LIFE - HOW FUNGI MAKE OUR WORLDS, CHANGE OUR MINDS & SHAPE OUR FUTURES, Random House, NY, 2020.
Kirk, Ruth, OZETTE - EXCAVATING A MAKAH WHALING VILLAGE, U of W Press, Seattle, London, 2015.
Written by the People of the ‘Ksan, GATHERING WHAT THE GREAT NATURE PROVIDED - FOOD TRADITIONS OF THE GITKSAN, Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver, U of W Press, Seattle, 1980.
Druehl, Louis D. And Bridgette E. Clarkston, PACIFIC SEAWEEDS - A GUIDE TO COMMON SEAWEEDS OF THE WEST COAST, Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, BC Canada, 2016.
Rawlence, Ben, THE TREELINE - THE LAST FOREST AND THE FUTURE OF LIFE ON EARTH, St Martin Press, NY, 2022.
Seltzer, Ulli, INDIAN ARTISTS AT WORK, Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1976.
Wright, Robin Editor, A TIME OF GATHERING - NATIVE HERITAGE IN WASHINGTON STATE, Burke Museum, U of W Press, Seattle & London, 1991.
Brotherton, Barbara, Editor, S’ABADEB THE GIFTS - PACIFIC COAST SALISH ART AND ARTISTS, Seattle Art Museum with U of W Press, Seattle & London, 2008.
Arno, Stephen f. & Ramona P. Hammerly, NORTHWEST TREES - IDENTIFYING AND UNDERSTANDING THE REGION’S NATIVE TREES, Mountaineer Books, Seattle, 2007.
Mapes, Lynda V., BREAKING GROUND - THE LOWER ELWHA KLALLAM TRIBE AND THE UNEARTHING OF TSE-WHIT-ZEN VILLAGE, U of W Press, Seattle, 2009.
Nadkarni, Nalini M., BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY - OUR INTIMATE CONNECTIONS TO TREES, U of CA Press, Berkeley, LA, London, 2008.
Wagamese, Richard, ONE NATIVE LIFE, Douglas & McIntyre, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, 2008.
Simard, Suzanne, FINDING THE MOTHER TREE-DISCOVERING THE WISDOM OF THE FOREST, Alfred A. Knopf, NY, 2021.
Reynolds, Mary, WE ARE THE ARK - RETURNING OUR GARDENS TO THEIR TRUE NATURE WITH ACTS OF RESTORATIVE KINDNESS, Timber Press, Portland, OR, 2022.
Haskell, David George, THE SONGS OF TREES - STORIES FROM NATURE’S GREAT CONNECTORS, Penguin Books, NY, 2017.
Wahuta, Elissa & Warburton, Theresa, Editors, SHAPES OF NATIVE NONFICTION - COLLECTED ESSAYS BY CONTEMPORARY WRITERS, U of W Press, Seattle, 2019.
Harjo, Joy, LIVING NATIONS, LIVING WORDS - AN ANTHOLOGY OF FIRST PEOPLES POETRY, W.W. Norton & Comp, London, 2019.
Turi, Johan, AN ACCOUNT OF THE SÁMI, Nordic Studies Press, Chicago, 2011.
Sjoholm, Barbara, FROM LAPLAND TO SÁPMI - COLLECTING AND RETURNING SÁMI CRAFT AND CULTURE, U of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis/London, 2023.
Mailhot, Terese Marie, HEART BERRIES - A MEMOIR, Counterpoint, Berkeley, CA, 2018.
Kimmerer, Robin Wall, GATHERING MOSS - A NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF MOSSES, Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, 2003.
Kimmerer, Robin Wall, BRAIDING SWEETGRASS - INDIGENOUS WISDOM, SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, AND THE TEACHINGS OF PLANTS, Milkweed Editions, Canada, 2013.
Hilary Stewart, CEDAR - TREE OF LIFE TO THE NORTHWEST COAST INDIANS, Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver/Toronto, U of W Press, Seattle/London, 1984.
Hilary Stewart, INDIAN FISHING - EARLY METHODS ON THE NORTHWEST COAST, Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver/Toronto, U of W Press, Seattle, 1977.
Treuer, David, THE HEARTBEAT OF WOUNDED KNEE-NATIVE AMERICA FROM 1890 TO THE PRESENT, Riverhead Books, NY, 2019.
Deur, Douglas & Turner, Nancy J, KEEPING IT LIVING-TRADITIONS OF PLANT USE AND CULTIVATION ON THE NORTHWEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 2005.
Turner, Nancy J, THE EARTH’S BLANKET-TRADITIONAL TEACHINGS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 2005.
Turner, Nancy J, PLANT TECHNOLOGY OF FIRST PEOPLES IN BRITISH COLOMBIA, University of British Colombia Press, Vancouver, 1998, 2001.
Turner, Nancy J, FOOD PLANTS OF COASTAL FIRST PEOPLES, University of British Colombia Press, Vancouver, 1995, 1997.
Gorsline, Jerry, RAINSHADOW-ARCHIBALD MENZIES AND THE BOTANICAL EXPLORATION OF THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA, Jefferson County Historical Society, 1992.
Pojar, Jim & MacKinnon, Andy, PLANTS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST-WASHINGTON, OREGON, BRITISH COLUMBIA & ALASKA, Lone Pine Press, Vancouver, 1994.
Moerman, Daniel E, NATIVE AMERICAN FOOD PLANTS-AN ETHNOBOTANICAL DICTIONARY, Timber Press, Portland, 2010.
Articles -
Beautiful articles about learning to make Kapa, or tapa cloth paper, shared on May Babcock’s blog. htkapa-hawaiian-barkcloth-the-process-and-community
Suquamish Elder Ed Carriere receives a National Heritage Fellowship Award for 2023. https://youtu.be/yxf3pgZ2oEI
The Struggle For Native Lands In Indianola, Washington
The Suquamish Basket Marsh: Creating a Living Library
Article about Ed Carriere’s Program at the Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network on Bainbridge Island Washington /https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/life/better-with-age-suquamish-weaver-brings-history-alive-at-barn/
Finding A Relationship To Place Through Natural Fiber Weaving
2019 article in Hakka Magazine, by Jess Mackie, interview with Nancy J Turner about the Salal die back due to global warming trends. https://hakaimagazine.com/article-short/salals-worrisome-die-off/
Beautiful 2009 Article about Athabaskan Koyukon Fish Skin Artist, Audrey Armstrong: https://salmonlife.org/archived/stories/salmon-sewing/
Hakai Magazine - The Basketmaker: /https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/the-basketmaker/
Films - Audio
Mutton The Wooly Dog Presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPpDdCfMXlQ
Film: The Art of Basket Weaving - Artbound - Season 9, Episode 8 - PBS Southern California Weavers
https://youtu.be/DAm1OaW84pM?si=S-ogcFIU5eQDNLov
Barbara Lawrence, Suquamish Culture Keeper Presentation, 2023
https://youtu.be/pib7EbebnPo?si=QpJHLm736eOhnX8t
Audio - THE SERVICEBERRY - Another wonderful celebration of the lessons for us found in the natural world by Robin Wall Kimmerer. THE SERVICEBERRY
A film about the late Bruce Miller, Skokomish Cultural Teacher, made by Katie Jennings of New Canoe Media. TEACHINGS OF THE TREE PEOPLE.
Katie Ahvakana tells about how the Suquamish People are able to catch songs while paddling in their canoes. Suquamish Songs
Calina Lawrence sings a beautiful uplifting song. I remember meeting her as a young girl, when I helped teach the Suquamish Pond Kids how to weave with cedar. Bruce Miller invited this group of Pond Kids to be in his film: TEACHINGS OF THE TREE PEOPLE. Calina Lawrence Sings
Cultural art film featuring Suquamish Elder Ed Carriere making a Salish Clam Basket, 2011, Produced by Katie Jennings of New Canoe Media.This link tells about the film - Clam Basket – A Story By Ed Carriere Film - Clam Basket A Story by Ed Carriere
Another short film by Katie Jennings, from the Cultural Film series at IslandWood. Made in 2010, this five minute film shows how Suquamish Elder, Ed Carriere, makes a folded bark pouch. https://youtu.be/oSjCIsZVSp0
The American Museum of Natural History short film on Ed Carriere and Conservation of NW Coast Baskets: https://www.amnh.org/explore/videos/exhibits/northwest-coast-basketry-woven-traditions
100 years ago the Suquamish Baseball Team traveled to Japan - Seattle Mariners Honor the Suquamish Tribe https://www.facebook.com/suquamishtribe/videos/189312309823357
This is an hour long lecture about their work together reconstructing ancient Salish Sea Basketry by Suquamish Artist, Ed Carriere, and Archaeologist, Dale Croes, for the Sealaska Institute. https://images.app.goo.gl/z4eEEzuRjqy3yxP76
This is an informative Smithsonian NMAI, 2015 video, about broken treaties and removal policies in the US. https://youtu.be/if-BOZgWZPE
Delores Churchill tells about harvesting and preparing Reed Canary Grass for decoration in basketry. https://youtu.be/cm1kmbZZLNM
Short clip on dividing cedar bark into layers for weaving. Film by New Canoe Media. https://vimeo.com/newcanoemedia/melindaquicktip
Short clip on the transformative nature of creating. Film by New Canoe Media. https://vimeo.com/newcanoemedia/barnmelindawest
The story of the struggle of NW Tribes to have the US government honor their treaty fishing rights: https://salmondefense.org/projects/educate/back-to-the-river/
A wonderful film by Robin Ferand which shares the wonderful story and work of Canadian Plant Fiber Artist and Teacher, Joan Carrigan. https://vimeo.com/862225245
An important curriculum for growing our connection to the place, plants and traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples: https://vimeo.com/463077952
The Art of Time, Documenting History Through Native Art (a zoom presentation): https://youtu.be/Gi5LxdEgtI0?si=c1q_YdE3msxw3nvB
Blogs -
Blog about Sacred Lands and Indigenous Peoples’ around the world asserting rights to protect their traditional lands, sovereignty, culture, and religion. If you search, there are many excellent films available for streaming from this site. This page represents the place both my paternal grandparents came from in North Norway in the early 1900’s. There was never any mention of being Sami in my family. Only mention of poverty and lack of opportunity. But this May 2022 article published in Norway Today seems to fill in some of the gaps. https://norwaytoday.info/culture/the-sami-a-people-often-forced-to-live-between-two-worlds/
And another less recent article gives some general information on the Sami People. https://sacredland.org/lands-of-the-sami-finland-norway-russia-sweden/
A nice blog that tells about the experience of weaving with plants at IslandWood through the perspective of the students. https://handstories.typepad.com/blog/2016/03/weaving-connections.html
The Irritable Metis - Email newsletter from Chris La Tray, enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, author of the forthcoming "Becoming Little Shell" from Milkweed Editions and "One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large."https://chrislatray.substack.com/
Ernestine Hayes – “Here We Are Together – Our Only Future Is a Future Together. As Humans.”
Ernestine Hayes is an Alaskan Native who shares her story in this brief, beautiful profile.
Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 – Weaving Nature
I’m honored to be offering an intensive 5 day workshop at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network as a part of Craft 2026.
Weaving Nature – Seasonal Gifts of Plants for Basketmaking
It’s been a busy fall gathering many of the plants we’ll be using in this workshop. I’m grateful to Jennifer Hemmingsen at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network for putting together this article. Please be sure to click on “Handwork: Weaving traditions, stewardship and place with Melinda West” to view this article and links to registration and […]
Craft 2026 – Upcoming Workshop at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network
I’m looking forward to leading a five day workshop at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network as a part of Craft 2026.
Local History – Interview With Barbara Ann Lawrence – Suquamish Tribal Cultural Teacher and Storyteller
I live on the traditional land of the Suquamish People. There is so much history and culture here and all the time I’m learning more, hearing more of the Lushootseed language spoken, watching the canoes being crafted and returning to the waters, witnessing the weavers teaching the next generation of weavers.
Porch Papermaking With Food Plants – Cardoon and Kale
Spring is flying by and the garden requires my attention. Before I forget, here are a few more plant-fiber paper experiments to share.
Here’s What’s Cooking – Porch Paper Making
To remain sane, what do you do? I’m cooking Sword Ferns this month to see if the green leaves can make a good paper.
Mathewson and West’s Woven Wearables Workshop at BARN
Mathewson and West collaborate to teach “Woven Wearables” at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network.
The Launch of the Valkyrie – Anacortes, Washington, US
March 21, 2024, on the first day of Spring, the 56+ foot vessel named Valkyrie, over a decade in the crafting, graced the waters of the Salish Sea.
