Another Apprentice is Launched

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Back-side of the Chilkat face by Crystal Rogers

Crystal Rogers has returned towards completion of her child-size Chilkat robe.  She began her apprenticeship with me last summer during our Chilkat weaving retreat and tour in Yukon and the northern parts of southeast Alaska.  (Click here to read about the weaving tour and see many, many photos)

Front side of Crystal's Chilkat face of her child-size robe

Front side of Crystal’s Chilkat face of her child-size robe

Any student or apprentice who learns Chilkat weaving with me is directly part of Jennie Thlunaut’s Chilkat weaving legacy.  I am proud of Crystal for completing her Chilkat face.  She has learned just about everything I learned from Jennie Thlunaut nearly 30 years ago…now she is on the Chilkat path of a life-long learning process  by way of weaving, weaving, weaving!!!  Congratulations Crystal! — Anytime you need assistance in your weaving, you know how to get a hold of me!

 

Ravenstail Weaving Class in a Log “Cabin” in Teslin, Yukon

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The beautiful natural blonde Ravenstail weaving “classroom” held in the livingroom of Cabin #1, part of the Teslin Motel, Teslin, Yukon Territory, Canada

Teslin Cultural Center rented what I call a log cabin “mansion” to host a Ravenstail class/retreat held morning, noon and night for two weeks this past July 7-21.  Weavers stocked the fridge with fresh fish and rhubarb; someone always brought food – we ate like queens!  We wove like monsters!

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Marge Beaufeld, Nita Clarke and Gwen Wally

One of the most fabulous things about teaching is when the student’s “light goes on” – like, yeah man, they get it!  Things are clicking and continue to click after that!  Yeah, can we hear an AMEN!?  Can we hear a HOO HA!?

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Marge and Nita check the speed of Clarissa’s fingering…!

Students teaching students - fantastic!

Students teaching students – fantastic!

I bought 7 books of the Ravenstail Patterns (Contemporary and Ancient) compiled by the Ravenstail Weavers’ Guild (contact Kay Parker (907)-586-2491 for copies of the book).  Instead of weaving the exact same headband, I suggested three simple designs from the handbook for the students to choose from using the design patterns and colors in whatever order they wish – each headband was very different from the next!  In this way, each headband was personalized.

Trisha and her mother Louise Baker each wove a project on the same loom - Here they show the Ravenstail headdress they are about to remove from the loom.

Trisha and her mother Louise Baker each wove a project on the same loom – Here they are beginning to wrap the warp ends of the Ravenstail headdress  and once finished will remove from the loom.

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L to R: Patricia Baker, Clarissa Rizal, Nita Clarke, Louise Baker, Bev Morris, Marge Beaufeld, Gwen Wally (Missing: Denise & Kelly Sam)

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The log cabin on Teslin Lake; approximately 2300 square feet includes 1 bedroom and 600 sq. ft. loft, full kitchen, and laundry room is about $200/night

I’ve never been one who has been attracted to log cabin style of homes – I’ve always had the judgment that they were big for nothing, however, all of that was changed when I first stepped into the magnificence of the blonde wood making everything golden, though I understand that with age, the wood becomes darker and sometimes grey (which I don’t really like especially growing up in the grey Southeastern Alaskan weather)…

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My own personal “weaving room” – the upstairs loft which is almost as big as my own studio though with a fantastic view of the lake free of any sign of human lights from cars, houses, etc.

Thank you to the coordinator of this class, Melaina Sheldon from Teslin Cultural Center!  Thank you TCC for sponsoring this class retreat.  All of us truly appreciate your support!

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The start of Clarissa’s child-size ensemble: robe, apron and headdress – multiple weavings going at once motivates the weaver to WEAVE!

I’ve spent the last five Summers in Yukon; I realize that I LOVE YUKON!!!  I love the landscape, all the wild animals (I saw bear, moose, lots of rabbits, wolf, and even lynx!), and I just love the people in this culture.  The way people are reminds me of the way we were in Juneau 40 years ago:  real.  People are very real in Yukon; generous, sharing, accepting, matter of fact, no-nonsense, practical and they’ve got that “wilderness within” quite in tact with that real “native” sense of humor that always makes fun of ourselves – Not like those of us in politics.

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Midnight on Teslin Lake; I enjoyed this view at the foot of my bed every time I retired for the day, enjoyed when I’d wake up in the middle of the night with the moon rise and enjoyed every morning at 5:30 with the sunrise – a luxury that I soaked up and will keep with me for a long time!

Already I am planning my return to Yukon next Summer with two weaving retreats in the works; first one to be held at Wayne and Cherri Price’s “mansion” (one of the big, white Ft. Seward houses), Haines, Alaska two weeks BEFORE the Adaka Festival (June 26-July 2, 2015) in Whitehorse and the other campout retreat on the shores of Teslin Lake near the Teslin Cultural Center two weeks BEFORE their “Kus Te Yea” Celebration (July  23, 24 & 25, 2015).  If you are a weaver and are interested in attending, keep these dates in mind and stay posted to my blog!

Atlin Music Festival: 2nd Year Weaving Demo

The sandblox at the Atlin Music Festival was the same size as last year, but it seems this year it was the main hot spot occupying young children of toddlers on up to 10 years old

The sandblox at the Atlin Music Festival was the same size as last year, but it seems this year it was the main hot spot at any given part of the day with at least 50 young children of toddlers up to 10 years old

Atlin Tlingit Louise Gordon is a co-founding member of the Atlin Music Festival.  This is the second consecutive year she has invited indigenous Ravenstail and Chilkat weavers to demonstrate our traditional weaving styles at the Atlin Music Festival.  Atlin is located in the upper part of British Columbia, Canada, just on the Northeastern side of the mountains from Juneau, Alaska.  Click here for more info on the annual music festival in beautiful Atlin, B.C.

Sharon Shorty and Marge Baufeld demonstrate Ravenstail and Chilkat weaving in the Artists' Tent at the Atlin Music Festival, Atlin, B.C.

Sharon Shorty and Marge Baufeld demonstrate Ravenstail and Chilkat weaving in the Artists’ Tent at the Atlin Music Festival, Atlin, B.C.

Gunalcheesh, Louise Gordon for inviting us to demonstrate our weaving traditions at the Atlin Music Festival !

The Atlin Music Festival's Campsite Specs has its sense of humor designating the quiet campers to the left of the sign and the noisy campers to the right!

The Atlin Music Festival’s Campsite Specs has its sense of humor designating the quiet campers to the left of the sign and the noisy campers to the right!

I just loved this sign:  “quiet, family, relax, zen, sleep peacefully…camp on the left of this sign” and those of your who are “loud, noisy, party, music, late hours…camp to the right of this sign…!”

There is the place for campers and RVs, then there's the "Tent City" with a fabulous view!

There is the place for campers and RVs, then there’s the “Tent City” with a fabulous view!

I never really appreciated outdoor music festivals until this year…!  Like down in Colorado, we’ve got them everywhere in almost every little town and big towns…it’s the norm; kids grow up with this kind of culture.  I didn’t,…alas, I grew up in a rainforest where we could not count on a sunny day to plan something way ahead of time like an outdoor concert much less a day of picking berries without a raincoat!

3rd Year Attending Adaka Festival, Whitehorse, Yukon

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Wolf and Eagle headdresses worn by the children of the KwaanlinDun First Nations during their performance

What is the Adaka Festival?  And where the heck is Whitehorse, Yukon Territory?  And why does Clarissa just talk about Yukon Territory all the time?

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This child dancer with the mask and leather gloves danced like the old-timers going down with low bent knees and extended arms with hands fluttering: wow! Bought back memories of my elder teacher Harry K. Bremner, Sr. from Yakutat, Alaska

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My oldest daughter Lily Hope and excellent carver friend William Callahan – one of the best young carvers in all of Yukon!

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New Zealand Maori carver, singer, musician Lyonel Grant presented slides of his work – and Tahltan Tlingit carver Dempsey Bob with his granddaughter

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William Callahan and the Smith/Walker family (Shawn, Ann and Brian)

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Wayne Price tells the story behind the song he sang: the migration under the glaciers

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My daughter Lily and the great uncle Wayne Price of Lily’s son, Louis…so does this mean I am related to Wayne? Hmmm….shoulda known!

2nd Year Teaching Chilkat/Ravenstail at Adaka Festival

 

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Louise Baker pays attention to Lily Hope teaching Diane Knopp how to dress her next weaving project on the loom

Ann Smith and I taught our second weaving class together in Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving during the week-long Adaka Festival in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.   Lily Hope assisted for four days (her first time being away from her family!).

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Ann Smith drafts out pattern configuration for Ravenstail design

Ann Smith and I were two of Cheryl Samuel’s first students to learn Ravenstail back in 1989.  Since then Ann has woven approximately 5 Ravenstail robes and numerous smaller weavings and has taught classes in Yukon and British Columbia.  Ann was one of my first students in Chilkat weaving back in 1991; in fact, she inspired me to weave robes instead of weaving contemporary pieces of regalia.  Only recently have I decided to incorporate weaving smaller items in my time line!

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Clarissa demonstrates the fantastic fingering technique of her teacher/mentor Jennie Thlunaut. L to R: Dan Shorty, Stefanie Sakinya, Diane Knopp, Andra Hunter, Clarissa, Marge Baufeld, Louise Baker, Sally Lutchman, Charlene Baker

Most of the techniques and spiritual information I teach are directly from my apprenticeship with the last of the traditional master weavers, Jennie Thlunaut from Klukwan, Alaska who passed away in July 1986 two months after she taught me.  All students who learn from me are a direct lineage of Jennie’s legacy, the most prolific Chilkat weaver of all time with 50 robes and 8 tunics.

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Lily Hope demonstrates weaving techniques on Clarissa’s child-size Chilkat robe to visitors at the Adaka Festival

Lily Hope has been weaving Ravenstail for nearly 10 years.  She started weaving Chilkat weaving 4 years ago when she was an assistant teacher during one of my classes in Juneau; little did anyone know that as she was “student teaching” she was for the first time learning how to weave Chilkat!!!

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Louise Baker (Tagish) measures her warp for the child-size headband using Jennie Thlunaut’s old-time technique of cutting a piece of cardboard to the length of the project, wrapping the warp loosely but evenly around the board and then cutting one end, before hanging strands on the loom

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The class is fairly full with 10 eager students

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Lily demonstrates how to “dress” your loom

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Ann helps Marge Beaufeld with her first braids while Nita Clarke whizzes away with happy anticipation of another weaving!

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Charlene Baker (Whitehorse) shows Debra Michel (Atlin) the additional weaving she has on her loom – one is her first Chilkat weaving the other is her combination of Chilkat and Ravenstail (of which she is well versed).

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Debra Michel weaves her second Chilkat weaving, a dance apron she designed…

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Lily helps Zach James (Haines, AK) establish his first row of his Ravenstail pattern while Dan Shorty pays attention

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Andra Hunter and her mother, Sally Lutchman contemplate what to do next

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Stefanie Sakinya Sidney has begun another weaving project on the other side of her loom…!

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Ann Smith (with her granddaughter) have fun with Nita Clarke – (let’s face it people, Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving is a lot of work, but it’s fun work!)

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Ann reminds the weavers to be mindful of keeping their “stitches” even

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Stefanie, Zach, Lily Sharon and Louise

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L to R back row: Debra Michel, Charlene Baker, Diane Knopp, Sharon Shorty, Carver Dempsey Bob, Marge Beaufeld, Nita Clarke – Front row: Clarissa Rizal, Ann Smith, Louise Baker (missing: Lily Hope, Zach James, Sally Lutchman, Andra Hunter)

I am totally impressed with the commitment and dedication of the Yukon weavers.  It is quite an honor for us to teach weavers who are eager to learn and eager to create more dance regalia for their family, friends and community members.  This experience has been an instructor’s dream.  And I know it was Jennie’s dream come true as well.  She was the last traditional weaver; imagine how she must have felt!  Imagine what she would feel if she were to see the number of wanna-be-weavers that have come out of the woodwork to dedicate themselves to a life-long learning process!  I know only a small fraction of what she would feel; it has brought me to my knees with gratitude and compassion to be a part of Jennie’s legacy – to be a part of the traditional Chilkat weavers’ legacy and to be a part of this present-day legacy of this younger generation who will carry this forward.  Can I have an Amen!?  Can I have a Hoo-haa!

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Looking through the class window at Clarissa’s yellow “Chilkat mobile” in the parking lot of the KwanlinDun Cultural Center in Whitehorse, Yukon

Thank you to Charlene Alexander, Executive Director of the Adaka Festival (in it’s 4th year), who coordinated another year of this amazing event and once again has invited us to teach weaving!  Thank you to all the weavers who came out to learn more about our traditional weaving styles; Gunalcheesh!