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!

We Weavers Met Nearly 25 Years Ago

 

Clarissa with Donna Cranmer (Alert Bay, B.C.) and Ann Smith (Whitehorse, Yukon)

Clarissa with Donna Cranmer (Alert Bay, B.C.) and Ann Smith (Whitehorse, Yukon) at the Sealaska Art Fair during Celebration 2014, Juneau Alaska — Louis Hope receives a pair of mukluks

There was a core group of us weavers, like little more than a handfull who were weaving Chilkat back in the late 80’s; some of those women were Canadian, some were Alaskan — didn’t matter, we were all related somehow!  They included Ernestine Hanlon, Suzi Williams, Anna Brown Ehlers, Irene Jimmy, Ann Smith, Donna Cranmer, and myself.  There were not very many of us back then; not like today.  (I apologize if I forgot to include you!)

It was sure good to meet up with Donna and Ann; we all hadn’t seen one another in 13 years!  From 1992 to 2001, we would have Indigenous Weavers’ Gatherings once or twice a year; they began with our hostess Ernestine Hanlon in 1992 in Hoonah – from there we organically grew…a weaver would host a gathering in her home in her home town…we hosted them in Juneau, Haines, Sitka, Alert Bay, Prince Rupert, etc….and it’s been so long, I forget where else!

It’s a darn good thing I blog else I’d forget what I’ve done and where I’ve been and who’ve I done whatever I did where and when!  It’s really hard to keep up with myself!

 

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

Adaka Festival’s Native Art Exhibit 2013

A partial view of the annual Adaka Native Art Exhibit only held for a week during the Adaka Festival – exhibitors in this section were: Coppersmith Brian Walker, Carver Wayne Price, Weaver Lily Hope and Regalia-maker Clarissa Rizal

Charcoal on canvas 6-foot column by Clarissa Rizal next to painter, Jean Taylor

Several Yukon beadworkers’ moccasins are housed below Carver Jimmie Joseph’s masks next to Clarissa Rizal’s charcoal on canvas

Hanging up in the rafters as part of the artshow below are two Ravenstail robes woven by Ann Smith flank Clarissa Rizal’s Chilkat robe

The “Weavers’ Dance”

Ravenstail robe “Grandmother’s Time” woven by Ann Smith, Whitehorse, Yukon danced by her son Shawn Smith, and a Chilkat robe “Diving Whale Lovebirds” woven by Clarissa Rizal, Juneau, Alaska, danced by fellow artist Wayne Price.  They were both “hired” to dance the robes with the “Weavers’ Dance” on Sunday, June 23rd during the Adaka Festival main stage.

Ann Smith carefully adjusts her son Shawn Smith’s collar of “Grandmother’s Time” Ravenstail robe

A couple days before the “coming out” of four woven robes that were in the Adaka Art Exhibit, Crystal Rogers and I were in the Elder’s room (where the weaving class was held during the Adaka Festival); I was playing with the warp stick using it like a walking cane pretending i was an old old elder – then I began to dance with it like a man holding a dance staff and wouldn’t it be fun if all of us weavers had one of these and danced with it like this – suddenly Crystal excitedly exclaimed: “…no, let’s hold it like a woman, soft and demure as if we are holding a precious item in our hand…” – we were so dead set on doing this during the “coming in” dance of the woven robes that we asked Ann Smith if her son could make enough warp sticks for all the weavers…and so was born the use of the warp sticks during the “coming out” dance of the woven robes…!

Clarissa adjusts the closure of Crystal Rogers’ “Eagle Raven” button blanket (a collaboration of two artists: design by Preston Singletary, hand-sewn by Clarissa Rizal

“Grandmother’s Time”, “Copper Child” (collaboration Lily Hope and Clarissa Rizal) and “Eagle Raven”

Front views of all three…

The following photos are of Whitehorse’s weaving class members dancing the “weavers’ dance…”

Ravenstail and Chilkat weavers with their “warp sticks” – a hand-made wooden stick with notches to measure the warp yarns for a dance robe or dance apron – these sticks were fashioned after the late Jennie Thlunaut’s warp stick

Thank you very much, Everett Smith, for crafting an additional 10 wooden warp sticks with short notice of two days so we may dance the “weavers’ dance!”

While the narrator introduces the next song, the dancers keep their backs to the audience waiting for the next dance song to begin

The “Raven” robe on the right is also designed by Preston Singeltary and sewn by Clarissa Rizal

Clarissa’s “Diving Whale Lovebirds” Chilkat robe danced by Wayne Price is dead center stage…

“Diving Whale Lovebirds” Chilkat robe and 4-piece Ravenstail ensemble “Copper Child”

“Weavers’ Dance” with our warp sticks made by Ann Smith’s son, Everett Smith – there were 13 of us – lucky number….!

“Weavers’ Dance”…

Wayne Price in Chilkat robe, Tristin Primozic in 4-piece Ravenstail ensemble, and Shawn Smith in Ravenstail robe

Tristin Primozic of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations is a member of the Wolf moeity and he is a young song leader in training with the Dahka Khwaan Juniors Dance Group.  He is wearing “Copper Child”, the 4-piece Ravenstail ensemble woven by Lily Hope and Clarissa Rizal.

After the Weavers’ Dance, outside in front of the cultural center for a photo shoot for the local newspaper

Backside of dancers with robes…the fourth robe on the far left was woven by Ann Smith, danced by Ravenstail and Chilkat weaver Charlene Baker

And thank you to all our models for dancing our robes for us:  Charlene Baker, Tristin Primozic, Shawn Smith and Wayne Price

Four robes – Two Ravenstail robes woven by Ann Smith; Chilkat robe woven by Clarissa Rizal, and child-size 4-piece child-size Ravenstail ensemble woven by Lily Hope and Clarissa

Owners of the new robe, Ken and Lauren Kaushansky with dancer Wayne Price and weaver, Clarissa Rizal

 

The Inspiration That Lead to Weaving Chilkat Robes

Clarissa and Ann Smith enjoy one anothers’ company at the Grand Opening of the Kwaanlin Dun Cultural Center during the annual Adaka Festival, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory – 2012

Whenever I begin weaving a Chilkat robe, I give thanks to Ann Smith, Kwaanlin Dun Wolf Clan from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.  I am remembering a life-turning conversation and experience I had with her.   While it is true Jennie Thlunaut taught me how to weave Chilkat, and I will forever be thankful for the gift Jennie entrusted to me; it was Ann who inspired me to weave Chilkat robes.

In 1992, during a month-long Chilkat Weavers’ Gathering hosted by Darlene See, Ann was beginning the weaving of her first robe; she had the top 6 inches or so of the border completed.  I hadn’t woven a Chilkat robe yet.  At the time, I had no desire to weave Chilkat robes; I imagined myself on the path of weaving smaller pieces that accentuated modern-day clothing – yokes, cuffs, collars, lapels, etc.

I asked Ann why she wanted to weave robes at a time when it seemed like people didn’t appreciate them, much less even know how much time and dedication this type of weaving takes.  She replied calmly and quietly “…Clarissa…it’s like this…we have to re-educate our people of not just the design and technique of weaving,…we have to educate them of the value…we have lost our knowledge of this art form and we have to gain back so much more than just that…”   I added with a big sigh:  “…well, Ann, that is a big task for us to tackle, don’t you think…?”  To which she replied:  “…well, that’s a choice we make.  We are at a place in our lives where we can make that difference.  What better choice to make than to be of service to our people who need this kind of strength in our lives…”

I asked her about working on a weaving that takes at least a year to make; like why would anyone want to work on something that took so long to make?  Ann added:  “…it’s the spirit of the thing…it’s the feeling that comes over me as I weave…it’s like this time-less connection of time immemorial that is happening at the same time…it feels as though all my relations are here with me, as though every Chilkat weaver that ever lived is standing behind me as I weave, watching, guiding and supporting me…”  Ann motioned for me to sit down and weave on her robe.  (Now that I have woven several Chilkat and Ravenstail robes, when a weaver invites you to weave on her robe, THAT is an honor!)  I wove a few stitches on the border of her robe, maybe a total of 10 inches…when suddenly, I felt a power come over me, I felt a presence of many but I could not place my finger on it…I experienced the essence of what Ann spoke of!

Ann apprenticed with me in Chilkat weaving from 1992 to 1996.  She is one of the most finest weavers I’ve ever known.  Her finery too is woven in the manner in which she lives her life and guides her family and people.  Over the years, I have sought her counsel in matters of relationships, art and business.  She lead me to weave Chilkat robes; it changed my life in many more ways than one.  Gunalcheesh, Ann!

Grand Opening of Whitehorse’s Cultural Center

Side front of the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Center in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

According to my friend and weaving colleague Ann Smith, Wolf Clan Kwanlin Dun 1st Nations, Whitehorse, Yukon, 20+ years the new cultural center was in the making; it finally had its grand opening on Thursday, June 21st.  It’s a beautiful building located right on the Yukon River in downtown Whitehorse.  The grand opening ceremonies was the kick-off for the annual indigenous celebration of Yukon’s Adaka Festival.

The newly-formed Kwanlin Dun Dancers first dance performance

When Crystal called last week and invited me to come with her to Whitehorse, neither of us had any idea about the Adaka Festival – we thought there was a big celebration for the grand opening of the new cultural center; little did we know that it is a BIG celebration!  We were scheduled to return to Juneau after two full days at Adarka; both of us had other commitments to attend to in Juneau.  As much as we wanted to stay the entire 10-day festival, we had to leave.  However, we took full advantage of all the activities that were provided.  We are already planning on returning to Whitehorse next year!

One of two leaders/teachers, Sean Smith introduces the Kwanlin Dun Dancers

Grandmother Ann Smith is the leading elder for the Kwanlin Dun Dancers

Traditional and contemporary indigenous performers graced the new stage at the cultural center.  Below are a few of the local Yukon performers.  I had taken photographs of other performances, but they were not in good focus – (eyesight is getting a bit off…?)

The Raven Courtship Dance

Kevin Barr duet

The Bethel Dancers

Jerry Alfred

 

Weavering Exhibit of Ainu & Northwest Coast 2009

The following is an exhibit of Northwest Coast Ravenstail weavers and the indigenous peoples of Japan, the Ainu, which opened at the Japanese Gardens in Portland Oregon in June 2009.   Several of the Northwest Coast weavers included Ann Smith, John Beard, Lily Hope and myself.  I didn’t know about this video until my daughter brought it to my attention today.  Here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzFmg87WnDc&feature=endscreen&NR=1