Jul 5, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
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?
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
My oldest daughter Lily Hope and excellent carver friend William Callahan – one of the best young carvers in all of Yukon!
New Zealand Maori carver, singer, musician Lyonel Grant presented slides of his work – and Tahltan Tlingit carver Dempsey Bob with his granddaughter
William Callahan and the Smith/Walker family (Shawn, Ann and Brian)
Wayne Price tells the story behind the song he sang: the migration under the glaciers
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!
Aug 23, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
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
Jul 27, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, To See or Not to See |
Mendenhall Glacier and Lake
First I gotta say that I apologize for not having posted photographs here that are not perfect scenery shots – they are not bright and totally in focus, they have parts of the airplane wing, and they are not breath-takingly astounding National Geographic material. I am far from being a professional photographer like my son or first boyfriend or the guy who takes shots of my ceremonial robes! I am just me taking snapshots for my blog, okay? okay. Glad I got that clarified.
the tidal flats and runway of the Juneau airport – you can see downtown Juneau in the background sandwiched between Mt. Roberts and Mt. Juneau range and an arm of Douglas Island
The photos on this blog entry is about my flight from Skagway to Juneau to Hoonah and back to Skagway again all in one day, all for a 5-minute presentation of a button robe that I designed and created for the Huna Totem Corporation’s 40th anniversary – they were hosting a celebration for their shareholders at Cannery Point in Hoonah. (Click here for blog entry on the only part of their celebration that I was able to attend.) During the same weekend that Huna Totem was having their celebration of their 40th year, I was in Teslin, Yukon demonstrating Chilkat weaving for three days with apprentices during their “Kus Te Yea Celebration 2013.” (click here for the blog entry on the “Weavers’ Cabin” in Teslin). Huna insisted that I come down and present the robe and explain the design, so I agreed to come down for the hour of the presentation because between 16 total hours of travel time, that was all the time I had in Hoonah. I drove from Teslin to Skagway, took a flight from Skagway to Hoonah via Juneau and then back again, like I said, all in one day.
Mendenhall Glacier, Lake and River – and the main road you see down there is Mendenhall Loop Road
Mendenhall Lake and Glacier
Herbert Glacier
Echo Cove to the right, and Berner’s Bay to the left
Davidson Glacier
The flight from Juneau to Haines was phenomenal; the pilot took us on a scenic flight of the local glaciers in the Juneau area: the Mendenhall, Herbert and Eagle; he flew over Berner’s Bay, then across Lynn Canal up towards the mouth of the Chilkat River just south of Haines – then we flew UP the Davidson Glacier, flew around the back side of the front range of the Chilkats and then DOWN Rainbow Glacier, passed Paradise Cove (where I once had land to build my dream home), over Pyramid Island and then landed at the Haines airport – Holy what a flight!!!
When we flew up Davidson I cried I was so happy I unbuckled my seat belt and looked out both sides of the plane’s window; I just love this land, I love the Chilkat range, I love the Chilkat river; I so be-long here! I swear that when I die, I want my ashes spread up and down these Chilkat glaciers and at the mouth of the Chilkat River and at Paradise Cove!
Ice fields behind Davidson Glacier
Rainbow Glacier is a “hanging” glacier – this is the front view with a waterfall — it was hard taking a shot of the Glacier when we were actually flying over it! And besides that, I couldn’t stand still long enough to take a shot because I was enjoying the view in any given moment as it was changing so quickly as you can imagine!
Peaks of the Chilkat Range — I have not educated myself to know their names so I gave them names of my own: Rissy’s Peak, Shanks’ Point, Rizal, etc.
Such an awesome flight I took a photo of the plane!
Flying into Skagway
Flight Dog – He never made a sound; it was as if he was a flyer all his life, though I placed my hand on him several times because he was shaking, so maybe this was his first flight and he was just silent about his fears…some of us are like that, you know….
By the time I arrived in Skagway, it was 7pm (that’s 8pm Yukon time). I realized I had been to heaven and was still flying high! Thank you to the pilot for giving us that extra few minutes of flight time; thank you soooo much!
Jul 1, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, North Tide |
Yukon festivities would not be complete without comedians Grandma Suzi and her boyfriend Cache Creek Charlie, aka Sharon Shorty and Duane Aucoin from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
Crystal and I stumbled across Yukon’s Adaka Festival last year when we took a three-day jaunt to Whitehorse. We were so pleasantly and enthusiastically surprised by all the festivities at the event that we made it a point to attend for the entire week this year, though with the intention that we would bring other Chilkat and Ravenstail weavers with us – and that we did!
Entrance to the Kwaanlin Dun Cultural Center on the banks of the mighty headwaters of the Yukon River in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
This festival was held June 21 through June 27, 2013. The Adaka Festival is kind of like the Alaska Folk Festival in that it runs for a week, it is entirely free, it consists of talented performers, teachers, artists, supporters, volunteers and administrators all coming together to pull off this huge event! Though one of the main differences is that the artists, performers and teachers are all First Nations people mainly from Yukon, some from British Columbia, elsewhere in Canada, and a couple of ’em from Alaska (I being one of the two.)
Yukon Jack (and his band) are a long-time favorite of Yukonians – they played some of my most favorite spaghetti westerns, ballads and western rock-n-roll !
The performers are all First Nation professionals working in contemporary and traditional genres including rock n-roll bands, traditional song and dance, fiddlers, rap singers, soloists and R&B, just to name a few.
There were daily workshops including but not limited to, drum-making, carving a paddle, Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving, skin-sewing, beadworking, mocassin-making, and singer-song writing.
Check out Adaka’s website for more information and lots of pictures.
Female members of the local Native dance group, Dahka Kwaan, led by Marilyn Jensen originally from Carcross, Y.T.
I am amazed at the amount of talent that is up in this Northern part of the continent, and that there is even a Native event like this. Do we have a Native event that comes close to this in Alaska? I don’t know. Maybe the Native Arts Festival held in Anchorage and the one held in Fairbanks – but are those still happening? (Sorry folks, we cannot compare this event to the Alaska Federation of Natives – that’s like comparing apples to oranges…!)
William Wasden, a traditional singer and composer from Alert Bay, B.C., graced the audience with his booming voice and strong presence.
This event is unique, that’s all there is to it. I wouldn’t travel all the way from Alaska (or even Colorado for that matter), to attend this event on an annual basis, but folks, that’s what I intend to do. And someday when my grandkids are old enough, I’m taking them with me.
Joe Migwans instructs his students on how to glue the two ends of the hoop together
Using clamps to secure the glued seams…!
Much like Celebration and the Alaska Folk Festival, this event is like a big family reunion where friends, relatives and fellow artists and musicians come together annually and have a great time just being together!
Copper smith Brian Walker, weaver Ann Smith, Carver/silversmith Wayne Price and multi-media artist/weaver Clarissa Rizal pose for a “one-of-these-days-this-photo-will-be-famous” shot.
Come on out to the Adaka Festival next year always starting on June 21st; there is quite the mixture of old and new, young and old, rough and tough, and all that stuff! Mark it on your calendar for a time when the sun doesn’t set and nor do its people!
Feb 10, 2013 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Uncategorized |
Hans Chester (in the background) brought out a Chilkat robe in a protected container to show to the 2003 Chilkat Weavers’ Gathering of 2003 including, L to R: Shgen George, Catrina Mitchell, Pat Walker, the late Elaine Etukeok, elder Bessie Coolie, Yarrow Vaara, Darlene See and Liana Wallace – July 2003
I am happy to announce a Chilkat/Ravenstail Weavers’ Gathering in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory held during the fabulous Adaka Festival at the new Kwaan Lin Dun Cultural Center on the Yukon River June 21-26, 2013. The Festival program includes: a gallery exhibition, artist demonstration tent, traditional and contemporary Indigenous music and dance, fashion, workshops, cultural presentations and more. Festival coordinators are currently working on this year’s line-up however you may check out last year’s information on the week-long Adaka Festival on their website at: http://www.adakafestival.ca/
Clarissa Rizal and Darlene See – the best part about the Weavers’ Gatherings is the sharing of laughter…it’s real good Chilkat medicine!
The Chilkat/Ravenstail Weavers’ Gathering is a wonderful venue where weavers from all levels of skill congregate to share in techniques, tricks-of-the-trade, establish life-long friends and gain spiritual and emotional support just by being together! Past Gatherings have been held in Hoonah, Juneau, Sitka, Haines, Alert Bay, Prince Rupert, and Pagosa Springs. We are excited to be hosted in Whitehorse. Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver, Ann Smith, Wolf Clan of the Kwaan Lin Dun people in Whitehorse, will be our local weaver “ambassador.”
Ann Smith begins weaving a Ravenstail robe while a Navajo weaver looks on – she is demonstrating weaving at the Heard Museum’s Indian Art Fair & Market – March 2003
The Gathering will be held in the Cultural Center’s Elder’s Room kitty-corner on the left from the main hall where all the festival performances will be held. The room is all glass allowing an ample amount of natural light.
The Adaka Festival Co-Executive Producer, Charlene Alexander is very excited about hosting the Weavers’ Gathering as part of their festival activities this year. Currently, Charlene is working on finding a large house where all of us may stay, and/or depending on number of participants, she will find locals who are willing to host us. However, if you need your space and privacy, there are several hotels and motels available, and I would suggest you book sooner rather than later.
As in the past, each weaver is responsible for their transportation to and from the Gathering. If you want grant assistance, applications for Alaskan residents may be obtained at the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the Rasmuson Foundation are due in just three weeks this coming March 1st. Also the New England Foundation for the Arts’ Native Arts Program has a travel grant with the stipulation that they must receive your application 2 months before travel date. It’s a fairly simple application and these people are helpful and generous. (In the past four years, I have applied and received this travel grant twice.) Because I am not Canadian, I am not familiar with the Canadian grants available, but I KNOW they are out there! Please do whatever it takes to help one another out in attending this wonderful Festival and Gathering!
If you are traveling by car, think about coordinating your travel plans with other weavers, just in case several of you want to car pool a drive from Haines or Skagway up to Whitehorse or a carpool from British Columbia. Spread the word about this Gathering!
You may take part for the entire week, or just for a few days or weekend – it’s up to your time and dime.
Bring whatever project you have on your loom, however, if you do not have a project and would like to begin one, gather your materials together to begin one. At past Gatherings, there is always someone who will assist you.
I will be conducting a weaving workshop during the Adaka Festival; I will mainly focus on teaching beginner students, however, if you want to brush up on your skills or obtain tricks-of-the-trade, you are welcome to attend.
If you need warp to begin your new project, you may place your order with me; I formed the Warped Bank, a team of people who spend part of their time spinning Chilkat and Ravenstail warp!!
If you have any questions about the Adaka Festival, please contact Charlene Alexander – her email address is: calexander@northwestel.net
If you have any questions, suggestions, concerns, etc. about the Weavers’ Gathering, please contact me via email at: clarissa@www.clarissarizal.com
I know many of us have time constraints due to jobs, family, fishing, etc. Just remember, you are not required to attend the Gathering during the entire week of the Festival; you may attend for a day or two if that is all your schedule allows.
We look forward to seeing you at the Gathering and Festival!
Aug 1, 2011 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Charlene concentrates on beginning the next row - her very first Ravenstail weaving!
While researching the old Chilkat robes in the museums around the Northern Hemisphere, artist/weaver/author Cheryl Samuel also came across the Ravenstail style of weaving. Her first Ravenstail weaving class was held at the Totem Center in Ketchikan, Alaska in November 1989; I attended that first class. Since then, whenever anyone asked me about learning Ravenstail weaving, I’d recommend Cheryl. However, 22 years later, I conducted my very first official Ravenstail weaving class in Teslin, Yukon Territory (Canada) during the week of their cultural “Celebration 2011” July 25 – 30, 2011.
During Teslin's "Celebration 2011" the class had many visitors checking out the weavers' tedious and wonderful work - We wove a small Ravenstail pouch in 3 days
Charlene demonstrates creating the corners to her classmates
Dan Shorty and Charlene Baker with their completed Ravenstail weavings - (I apologize for not having a shot of the entire class with their completed weavings!)
Ainu elder inspects Rose's recently-completed Ravenstail pouch with Wayne and Debra Carlick
During the class, a group of Ainu visitors from Japan were guest performers at Teslin’s Celebration. Although we there was a language barrier, we used lots of gestures and facial expressions to communicate the similarities of our spinning and weaving techniques.
The Ainu spin their warp exactly like ours with two strands of fiber with the exception that they spin in mid-air using their thumbs and we spin our warp on our thigh
Ainu performers from Japan with Cedar bark weaving instructors Debra Carlick (Atlin, B.C.) and Lily Hope (Juneau, AK) and Ravenstail instructor Clarissa Rizal
