Native Art

For centuries, the Tribes of the Columbia Plateau (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Umatilla, Yakama and Nez Perce) utilized cedar bark basketry for gathering, storage, and trade. Many of these folded cedar baskets were used to harvest huckleberries, and numerous “culturally altered trees” near the Mt. Hood & Mt. Adams berry fields, bear the marks of “basket scars”, evidence of where and when Native people were making this particular kind of basket. Join Brigette to hear her culture’s history and relationship to the cedar bark basket.  In this 1-day class, students will measure and cut Western Red Cedar, learning to make their own folded gathering basket.

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.

Have you ever wanted to know what berries are edible when you're hiking in the mountains? What other plants are edible and useable, and useable for what? Take this opportunity to spend time in the mountains, learning about traditional Native American food plants like huckleberry and other plants used for basketry & medicine.

Using traditional and contemporary methods, students will learn to prepare Western Red Cedar for weaving and have a completed berry gathering basket. Students will learn single twined, plaiting, triple strand twinning and a fold down diagonal rim. If time allows, students may participate in using natural materials to dye their cedar.

A dinner incorporating traditional Native foods will be prepared and served on Saturday night.

We will be located in the Siuslaw National Forest, Hebo Ranger Station between the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation and Tillamook Oregon, around South Lake or Hebo Lake Campground. If time allows, a tour of some of our natural beauty of our reservation, traditional basketry plants, fishing or hiking part of the original Tillamook Indian Trail.

An excellent workshop for those who are curious about weaving, ethobotany and for those who love to be outside. Students must be preapred to camp, and provide their own tents, sleeping bags, etc. Dinner will be provided on Saturday night, students are responsible for packing all other meals. This workshop is 100% outdoors and recommended for those who like to camp, hike and are comfortable in a variety of weather elements.

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.

In this workshop, students will spend the day learning how to process Western Red Cedar bark, prepare it for weaving, weave a medium sized basket and have a completed basket by the end of the class to take home. Each student will learn how to traditionally process the bark and will learn four different weaving techniques plaiting, twine, 3-strand twine, a rim and how to make cordage.

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.