Chilkat and Ravenstail Weaving Return to Yukon

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Yukonian and Alaskan Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving students hold their wooden “warp sticks” along with dancers wearing Chilkat and Ravenstail robes (“Diving Whale” Chilkat robe woven by Clarissa Rizal, “Copper Child” woven by Lily Hope & Clarissa Rizal, “Grandmother’s Time” Ravenstail robe woven by Ann Smith —  Kwaanlin Dun Cultural Center in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory – June 2013

Today, as I was doing some research on line about other Native American, Alaskan artists or Ravenstail and Chilkat weavers who may have blogs, I came across this article from Radio Canada International’s website:

http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2013/07/10/chilkat-and-ravenstail-weaving-renewed-in-yukon/

Ann Smith and I taught this class nearly two years ago; she taught Ravenstail and I taught Chilkat.  It was a blast.  It feels real good to help inspire the local Yukon weavers to come back to their “woven” selves.  Ann and I met when we were young like most of these gals nearly 30 years ago.  Little did we know then that we would be helping to revive our nearly-lost weaving traditions.  Who woulda known, eh?

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!

Clarissa Rizal’s Chilkat & Ravenstail Weaving Class Schedule – Summer 2014

Chilkat Weaving Class taught by Clarissa Rizal and Lily Hope at SEARHC’s Board Room, Juneau, Alaska — July 2010 — L to R:  Fausto Paulo, Mary Ebona Miller, Gail Dabaluz, Trisha Makaily, Leandrea Makaily, Catrina Mitchell, Ricky Tagaban, Lily Hope, & Jeanette Tabor

As of this date March 10, 2014, there are five Chilkat or Ravenstail weaving classes Clarissa will be teaching this Summer in Alaska, Yukon, B.C. and Washington State; here’s her schedule (subject to change depending on additional classes):

Chilkat Weaving Class held at Catrina Mitchell’s home, Juneau, Alaska — 2010

1).  One Day “Gain-Confidence-In-Chilkat-Skills Class held the day after Celebration 2014 in Juneau, Alaska:  Sunday, June 15th; 9am to 3pm  Location: TBA     For a description of the class, costs, etc., please read the blog entry with specific details of this class by clicking here.

For further information and sign up, please contact Clarissa at:  clarissa@www.clarissarizal.com

Chilkat and Ravenstail weavers taught by Ann Smith and Clarissa Rizal gather on the back deck of the Kwaanlin Dun Cultural Center on the Yukon River, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory – June 2013

2).  Ann Smith will be teaching Ravenstail and Clarissa will be teaching Chilkat Weaving during the week of the Adaka Festival at the Kwaanlin Dun Cultural Center in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada — June 27th through July 3rd, 2014

To see photos and read about last year’s Chilkat/Ravenstail weaving class taught by Ann and Clarissa during the Adaka Festival 2013, click here.

To inquire or sign up for this year’s class, contact Charlene Alexander, Executive Coordinator of the Adaka Festival

The cabin of Chilkat Weaving demonstration at the Teslin “Celebration 2013” in Teslin, Yukon Territory

3).  Clarissa will teach a two-week Ravenstail Weaving Class July 6 through July 21st, at the Teslin Cultural Center on the shores of Teslin Lake.  We will weave a headband; all equipment, supplies and materials will be provided.

Click here to see photos and read about last year’s Chilkat Weaving Gathering and Demo in the cabin which is part of artist’s demonstration during Teslin’s Biennial Celebration 2013.

Inquire or sign up with Melaina Sheldon at the Teslin CC at:  Melaina.Sheldon@ttc-teslin.com

4).  (Note:  There will be just a 3-day break from the Ravenstail weaving class in Teslin to demonstrate at the Atlin Music Festival in Atlin, B.C., the weekend of July 11, 12 & 13th.  The Teslin class students (and the Whitehorse or any Alaskan weavers)  have the option to demonstrate weaving at the Atlin Music Festival; though your attendance is not required. We will resume the second week of the Ravenstail weaving class in Teslin on Tuesday, July 15th, ending July 21st. )

To see photos and read about last year’s weaving demonstration at the Atlin Music Festival, click here

Teahonna James demonstrates at the Atlin Music Festival, Atlin, B.C., Canada – July 2013

5).  A beginner’s Chilkat or Ravenstail weaving class in Yakutat  is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, July 27 through Thursday, July 31st.  Specifics TBA – stay tuned!

6).  Clarissa will be teaching Chilkat weaving during a Chilkat Weavers’ Retreat held on Vashon Island, Washington State, during the week of September 9th to the 16th.  You must have prior weaving experience and a project already started on your loom.

See more photos and read last year’s blog entry on the Beach House Retreat by clicking here.

Class size is limited to 10 students.  For more information and sign up for this year’s Retreat, please contact Sue Shotridge at:  sue@shotridgestudios.com

Chilkat Weaving Retreat will be held at the Beach House on Vashon Island, Washington State

Chilkat Weaving Tour Part 1: Whitehorse, Y.T.

L to R: Clarissa Rizal, Teahonna James, Vanessa Morgan, Crystal Rogers, and local beginner weaver Stefanie Sidney from Whitehorse

Last Summer/Fall 2012, three apprentices learned a bit of weaving in my studio in Colorado:  Vanessa Morgan from Kincolith, Nass River B.C., Crystal Rogers from Juneau, Alaska, and Teahonna James from Durango, Colorado, her family originally from Klawock, Alaska.  We talked about meeting up again; this time we’d meet in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory beginning with the Adaka Festival mid-June 2013 – (click here to see blog entry on the Adaka Festival).  During the festival, there is a Northwest Coast Native Art Exhibit that is shown only during the length of the one-week festival (click here to see parts of the exhibit).   Included in the exhibit were two Ravenstail robes, a child-size 4-piece Ravenstail dance ensemble and one Chilkat robe.  These woven ceremonial regalia were part of the “Weavers’ Dance” (click here to see this blog entry).

The purpose of our weaving tour:  to recognize, acknowledge and support local weavers of the community, share our knowledge with local weavers of all experience levels within the community,  inspire and secure the next generations of weavers, create a network of weavers wherever they live, educate the general public about Chilkat weaving, and to simply weave together!

Two maps and a calendar grace the walls above Clarissa’s loom in the Weavers’ apartment; one is a map of the Northwest Coast and the other a map of Yukon Territory – please take notice of the “money” chair; this particular sits on a her money!  heeeeeheeeee!

We financed this tour out of our own individual pockets; no funding came from elsewhere.  We did this tour because we were inspired to weave, travel and because we knew there were other weavers out there who wanted our support and wanted us to come visit.  We started our weaving tour in Whitehorse, Yukon during the Adaka Festival weaving class taught by Ann and myself (click here to see photos and story); we rented a Yukon College campus two-bedroom, fully-furnished apartment for the four of us; each splitting the rent and each bringing a mound of food – though Crystal and Teahonna brought more pots and pans and spices and cooking utensils.

Table and floor looms, along with spinning warp supplies and a sewing machine to sew up spinning pads, define this particular space as a weaver’s nest!

We took turns cooking meals and keeping the place half-way decent; but we mostly wove on our projects.  I gave instruction now and then when needed, and we each set our own hours.  There was a drawback for most of us:  no cell phone service (though my Verizon service was excellent), however, we were lucky that we had occasional internet service.

Crystal Rogers puts in the braids for her eyebrows of her child-size Chilkat robe

During our almost 4-week “residency” in Whitehorse, we invited any of the beginning students from the Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving class taught by Ann Smith and myself, held at the Adaka Festival to come on by and weave with us (you may check out the weaving class blog entry by clicking here.)    Alas, only two local women showed up.  The others were busy fishing, berry-picking, etc. – we cannot blame them; they were doing the important stuff like putting up food for winter!

Teahonna spins Chilkat warp

During our month in Whitehorse, we used this apartment as our home base as we took a weekend trip to the Atlin Music Festival in Atlin, B.C., just a 2-hour drive from Whitehorse.  We were invited by Louise Gordon, a member of the Wolf Clan, to her hometown of Atlin, to demonstrate Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving during the Atlin Music Festival, July 12-14.  Check out the blog entry on our weekend jaunt to Atlin by clicking here.

Teahonna splits cedar bark

At the end of our stay in our “luxury” on campus apartment in Whitehorse, we attended Teslin’s “Kus Te Yea – Celebration 2013” event held July 26-28.  Again we were invited to demonstrate weaving during this wonderful 3-day event.  Check out the blog entry of our own “weaving cabin” during Teslin’s Celebration by clicking here.

The washed warp is tightly-stretched around the back of a wooden chair to dry

Directly after Teslin’s Celebration, we drove down to Skagway and caught the ferry to Haines, Alaska where we were hosted by Lee Heinmiller at the Alaska Indian Arts and we demonstrated weaving at the Sheldon Museum July 30-August 1st.  Check out the blog entry of our visit at the Sheldon Museum in Haines by clicking here.

Click here to read the poem Wayne Price wrote in honor of our mentor, the late Jennie Thlunaut and in honor of our dedication to the preservation and perpetuation of Chilkat weaving

Our weaving tour did not quite “end” in Haines; even now I cannot say that our tour has ended – it’s an on-going adventure.    Vanessa was called home to help with her daughter’s birth of a child (and she will host Crystal who is intending to visit Vanessa and the Nass River for the first time); by ferry, Crystal headed to Prince Rupert, B.C. to meet up with weaver Megan O’Brien; Teahonna ferried to Klawock, Alaska to attend the Klawock Totem Raising, attend a family reunion and met up with weaver Suzi Williams; and I have done and am doing a number of things (i.e. a student during the Jineit Academy’s artist-in-the-schools teacher’s training Aug. 5-9, (click here to read the blog entry on the artists and teachers); picked lots of nagoon berries (click here to see those wonderful berries); hung out with grandchildren and my daughter; a part-time clerk at friend Jan Parrish’s Aurora Healing store located one door up North Franklin Street from Hearthside Books in downtown Juneau (click here for link to Jan’s Alaskana Botanicals); and, helped Juneau weaver Catrina Mitchell start her Ravenstail weavings (you may click here to read that blog entry.)

Vanessa weaves her eyelids

Next?  We are then planning a tentative journey to the Toadlena Trading Post in the Chuska Mountains about 30 miles southwest of Shiprock, New Mexico.  For over 10 years, Mark Winter, Navajo rug “expert” hosts the Navajo weavers’ “Spinning and Carding Day” the third weekend in September.  This is the one day of the year where most if not all of the Navajo weavers in the Two Grey Hills area gather together and begin to prepare the wool for the following winter’s weaving projects. (Click here to find out more info on the Toadlena Trading Post.)

In previous visits on this day, when we have shared our cross-cultural weaving knowledge, we learned that the Navajo and Chilkat weavers had something in common:  we use the same type tool to spin our weft yarns called the “drop spindle.”  We do not use the small drop spindle, we use the longer one where the post of the drop spindle measures from our knee to the floor.  So to enable us to eventually spin our own weft yarns of mountain goat, we want to learn from the Navajo weavers how to use this particular drop spindle.  We are excited to learn this from another indigenous tribe, whose sense of humor is much like ours.

An outline on the white board enables each of us to help reach our goals – down below there is a drawing of how to weave the perfect circle…

Where will be weaving this Winter?  Well, we will spend the Fall in Colorado because it is beautiful, and come Winter, well…that’s still yet to be determined.  Maybe we “Alaska Girls” (as the Canadians call us), will go to Mexico and do a cross-cultural exchange there to learn about dyeing weft yarns, or meet up with the Maori weavers and share weaving techniques.  The “book” is wide open.  Who knows where we will really be in the next month!

Sometimes we shuffle from one “work station” to another – (i.e. weaving loom, to splitting warp or wool, to spinning warp, to baking bread to making dinner, to hanging out on the deck, etc.)

If you are interested in sponsoring us in your community, contact any one of us, and let’s go from there.  Our tentative plans for next Summer are:  directly after Celebration 2014 (June 11-13) in Juneau, Alaska, we will head up to Whitehorse for the annual “Adaka Festival – A celebration of Yukon’s diverse and distinctive First Nation’s arts and culture” where we hope to teach another Chilkat/Ravenstail weaving class during the week.

Vanessa, Clarissa and Ann

After Yukon, we will head to the coast of British Columbia to the towns of Terrace, Kincollith on the Nass, Prince Rupert, Alert Bay, Masset and Haida Gwaii.   We want to network and work with weavers of these communities.  We would like to spend at least 3 days up to a week at each community.  Our intentions are the same as above:  to recognize, acknowledge and support local weavers of the community, share our knowledge with local weavers of all experience levels within the community,  secure the next generations of weavers, create a network of weavers, bring Chilkat weaving appreciation to the general public, and to simply weave together!

We noticed that sunsets in Whitehorse in the peak of Summer take about hours to set, but not really cuz the sun just swings itself back up into the sky, so what do weavers do on their breaks? They take photographs of lingering sunsets!

We will be looking for funding sources to assist with our travel expenses (gas, food, lodging, ferry fare).  If you would like to assist in whatever way you know you can help, please contact either one of us (Stefanie, Crystal, Vanessa, Teahonna, Clarissa).  We appreciate your assistance!

Ann instructs Teahonna on the next technique…

Weavers burn a lot of calories – thinking takes a lot of energy, so one of the things that is very important to us is that we eat well…here we see the sponge-method bread rising in a bowl and salad makings off to one side to go along with our salmon frying on the stove. oh yum, when we were done with our tour, did we gain weight or what!?

Having a sunny deck helps “get us out of the house” while we are still working – here Vanessa spins the warp for her child-size robe’s side braids….

Local Whitehorse beginner weaver, Stefanie receives help from both sides, Vanessa and Crystal

Securing our next generation of weavers: Crystal Rogers, Lily Hope, Stefanie Sidney

A Weavers’ Tour Begins With a Weaving Class & Weaver’s Gathering

Yukon and Alaskan Weavers in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory – June 2013 – on the Yukon River — L to R front row:  Stefanie Sidney, Crystal Rogers, Nita Clark, Clarissa Rizal, Charlene Baker, Sherri Atlin, Ann Smith —   L to R 2nd row:  Heather Callahan, Cherish Clarke, Ricky Tagaban, Pamela Adamson, Teahonna James, Diane Knopp

In the Yukon a dedicated group of people is working to preserve an ancient cultural tradition. To teach the art of Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving the past is becoming alive again and becoming a force that is weaving itself into dance, song and other cultural aspects of the people of our Northwest coast Alaska, B-C and the Yukon.

Enjoy the interview with Clarissa and visit the new robes of today….

http://www.cbc.ca/north/features/weaving-and-words/

First day of weaving class in the Elder’s Room of the Kwaanlin Dun Cultural Center on the banks of the Yukon River, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

Over 20 years ago, after a gathering of Chilkat weavers, Ann Smith said she wanted to host a Gathering in her hometown of Whitehorse, Yukon — Finally, after attending Weavers’ Gatherings in Prince Rupert, Alert Bay, Sitka, Juneau, Hoonah, and Haines, with the assistance of Charlene Alexander, festival coordinator for the Adaka Festival, we made this happen in Whitehorse!

Ann demonstrates to Teahonna one of several methods on how to measure your warp for your project

Ann and I had a total of 12 new students; she taught 6 weavers interested in Ravenstail weaving and I taught 6 weavers interested in Chikat weaving.

The white board listing all the weavers in the class…

While Ricky continues to spin warp, Ann demonstrates to Georgianna and Heather how to warp the loom

Clarissa explains to Georgianna the importance of perfection in the first row of weaving, the anchor row.

Crystal assists Pamela on her fingering technique

It’s a wonderful thing when an experienced apprentice helps her fellow beginner student learn the basics of weaving.

Ricky weaves below the full moon window designed by Kwaanlin Dun artist, Justin Smith

The Elder’s Room has great ambiance for a weaving class – perfect in size of room with very good natural lighting, the glass walls dividing us from the cultural center’s hallway that provided us privacy yet the general public could watch what we were doing, AND it was the only room in the cultural center that had perfect air-conditioning during hot, muggy sunshine!

Ann demonstrates to Pamela while Diane looks on

Nita is happy that the fingering is coming so naturally for her!

12-year-old Amber Baker re-visits the weaving she began when she was 9 years old. Even though she was reluctant to do it, she agreed to take out the weaving (cuz it showed too  many “teeth”) and start all over again.

Wayne Price and Dan Shorty pay a visit during our “visiting hours”

9am to 1pm was reserved for the Weaving Class where there were no visitors allowed so we were not interrupted during instruction time – 1pm to 8pm were hours reserved for the Weavers’ Gathering open to any and all visitors and any weavers who wanted to join us during those hours

Ravenstail weaver Dan Shorty and Charlene Baker check out Sherri Atlin’s work

Teahonna James, whose family is from Klawock, Alaska is weaving her very first ever weaving in Ravenstail, making a double-sided pouch

Dan tries to help Ricky weave the side braids, while Teahonna learns what Heather just learned

Stefanie Sidney joined the class a few days after everyone else and wove like the dickens to catch up!

Crystal Rogers begins weaving her Ravenstail leggings

Vancouver artist Alano Edzerza visits Charlene Baker weaving a commissioned Ravenstail headband

Amber prepares her slipknots

Pamela and Ann inspects and congratulates Diane’s completed weaving

Happy weavers create happy weavings which when worn help create happy dancers creating happy families and communities!

Heather, Ricky and Cherish enjoy one anothers’ cozy company

“Eagle Raven” Button Robe

“Eagle Raven Lovebirds” button blanket robe – collaboration of form line design by Preston Singletary and Clarissa Rizal seamstress (and she chose the fabrics and buttons) – Photograph by Ruth Borgfjord

Crystal Rogers from Juneau, Alaska modeled this button blanket at the DaZeTs’an Fashion Show Wednesday night, June 26th at the Adaka Festival in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

The robe is made of two types of woven cotton “tapestry-like” upholstery fabric, hand-appliqued with antique mother-of-pearl and abalone buttons.

Crystal Rogers does a slight dance during the fashion show just before she exit the stage – she was one of the best models because of her demure and mysterious “air” about her as she kept her chin down hiding her face from the bright stage lights – our grandparents would have been proud of her!

Native Songs with the Uke

Clarissa and her uke

Like most of the performers at the Adaka Festival in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory June 21-27, I will play a 20-minute set.  I will sing Tlingit songs and my own originals accompanied by my ukelele on Saturday, June 22 at 1:45pm.  Check out the line-up of performers and artists on their website.  The Adaka Festival features traditional and contemporary Canadian 1st Nation performers and artists mainly from Yukon and British Columbia, with an occasional Alaskan(!).

I’ve been playing the uke a little over a year – this tool has become a spiritual/emotional life-saver – in my opinion, if you need to be “saved” in any way, this is the instrument that can help bring you a sense of balance.  I think that if everyone in the world played ukelele, even if they just strummed a few chords every day and didn’t sing, that eventually, the world would have consistent peace!  Yep.

As I mentioned, the Adaka Festival also features artists from the Yukon/British Columbia/Alaska region.  During the Festival week of June 21-27, I will also be teaching an introduction to Chilkat weaving class along side Ann Smith who will be teaching Ravenstail, and Ann and I are  spearheading another Indigenous Weavers’ Gathering .  On Friday, June 21, I will also be a part of a group art exhibit featuring a Chilkat robe I am recently completing, my latest button robes, a contemporary painting, along with a few Giclee prints and my button blanket series greeting cards.

If you are in Whitehorse, Yukon, come out and visit us!