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.
Books -
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.
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 -
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/
Films -
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
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/
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/
Food For Thought – No Reconciliation Can Come Without Truth
Everyday I appreciate the food plants along the trail I walk, reminding me that people have lived here from time immemorial to today who have preserved appreciated these food plants too.
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.
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.
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 […]
Cedar Pouch Class at BARN – June 2017 Recap
This June an amazing group of students came together to make Cedar Bark Berry Picking Pouches at the new Fiber Art Studio at BARN.
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.
Lessons Learned Through Weaving
Dawn Walden teaches us a thing or two about Mad Weave.
Community Support For Artists
Thank you for your support. Hope to see you again next year!
Suquamish Museum Presentation
Katie Jennings, filmmaker, presents her films.
