Native Art

For thousands of years, the Plateau Native people lived along the Columbia River and in the eastern semi-arid plateau areas, and they became known for twining round, food-gathering baskets and flat, cornhusk baskets. Each student in this class will use traditional plant fibers – tule, cattail leaves, sedge grass – to create a beautiful basket, approximately 5-inches in diameter and 7-inches tall, in the Plateau style. Throughout the process, students will learn about local plants, habitats, harvesting, processing, and basketry. This workshop is ideal for students who have had some twining or weaving experience.

Since time immemorial, the Tribes of the Columbia Plateau (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Umatilla, Yakama and Nez Perce) utilized the root gathering bag to harvest and collect numerous important foods throughout the growing season, including the pyaxior “bitterroot”. In additional to it’s utilitarian use, the Root Digging Bag has ceremonial importance, and is often prominently displayed during seasonal feasts and ceremonies. Join Brigette and create a root gathering bag from jute and yarn. The history of the bag, traditional materials and examples will be shown. Students will measure and cut, learn to weave their own basket.

Dr. Susan Pavel returns to WildCraft to share the art and tradition of Coast Salish Weaving. This workshop expands upon the basics of Coast Salish twill weaving, covered in her September intensive (see above description), exploring the more complex technique of twined weaving. Twined weaving offers interesting ways to combine patterns, and challenges weavers with a multitude of surface design combinations. This twined weaving class will teach you how to warp up a traditional two-bar loom, weave a pattern of twining, and finish a small project.  These basics are the building blocks for a larger shawl, sash, blanket, sit-down, leggings, etc. that can be worn or utilized during gatherings.  This workshop is ideal for students who have are familiar with basic weaving techniques, or those who participated in the Introduction to Coast Salish Weaving.

Juncus is a sacred weaving material used by numerous tribes, including those throughout the Willamette Valley. This common reed was used to create a variety of practical storage containers, from gathering baskets to European style purses made for settlers. In this intermediate weaving class, students will learn traditional Kalapuya weaving techniques, including plaiting, single twine, triple strand twine, traditional Kalapuya rim, chase weaving, overlay and embrocation for designs. Students will learn about the uses of basketry plants, gathering, and preparing techniques, along with local Tribal history and culture.

All cultures and all indigenous people across the world have an original weave style. The Coast Salish people have two weave styles, found in both their everyday and ceremonial clothing: a twill weave and twined weave. This twill weaving class will teach you how to warp up a traditional two-bar loom, weave a pattern of twill, and finish a small project. These basics are the building blocks for a larger shawl, sash, blanket, sit-down, leggings, etc. that can be worn or utilized during gatherings. This workshop is intended for beginning weavers.

This is a rare, open-weave storage basket. Students will work with tule warps and Z-twine with split cattail leaves, learning various rim endings.  This is an ideal class for those who have taken a basket weaving class, or who have weaving knowledge. Students will have the opportunity to learn about Pat’s weaving experience and Native heritage throughout the class.

Wasco Native people lived for thousands of years along the Columbia River, and the weavers among them were known for their full-turn twining techniques and beautiful geometric designs and motifs. In this class you will make a small, round Wasco basket (Sally Bag) using cotton and wool fibers. The class will focus on Wasco-style weaving techniques and patterned design work.