Jennie Thlunaut's Biography by Rosita Worl & charles smythe - Part 1
| I Jennie Thlunaut - 1985 - photo by Larry McNeil (www.larrymcneil.com) |
 Jennie Thlunaut made this beaded, moosehide vest for her granddaughter, Rosita Worl |
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"Jennie Thlunaut" Master Chilkat Blanket Artist
by Rosita Worl and Charles Smythe
from the Exhibit book “The Artists Behind the
Work” Published by the University
of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, Alaska 1986
Reprinted here with author's permission
Jennie Thlunaut 1892-1986
Two months before the completion of the exhibition and
catalog, Jennie died at the age of 94. We were thankful
that many aspects of her early and later years as a
Tlingit artists have been described in her biography.
She will be remembered as one of the most eminent and
celebrated weavers of Tlingit ceremonial robes. Because
of her adherence to traditional art forms, designs,
and materials in a changing society, Jennie will continue
to be a role model for other artists, especially those
Tlingit weavers of the Shax’saani Keek’
Guild who were fortunate enough to have watched and
learned from her.
INTRODUCTION
My first recollection of my grandmother Jennie Thlunaut
goes back to the period when she was living in the Raven
House. I recall the happy moments as a little girl picking
blueberries and playing on the beach on the beautiful,
sunshining days. My grandfather, John Thlunaut, was
still alive then. After his death, Jennie left Raven
House, according to Tlingit custom, since she was no
longer married to a member of the Raven Lukwaax.adi
clan. She returned to Klukwan, and it was there that
I began to work with her as a colleague. She encouraged
me and supported my work in collecting oral traditions
and songs, but she could not understand why I was more
immersed in this rather than learning how to weave Chilkat
blankets and spruce root baskets.
Through the years, Grandma Jennie continued to help
me. When I went back East for my graduate studies, she
made me a vest with “Alaska” beaded on the
back because she wanted people to know I was from Alaska.
Later she came back to participate in the “Tlingit
Aanee” exhibit which I developed at the Harvard
Museum. When I returned to Alaska, she worked with me
and my colleague, Dr. Charles Smythe, on a project on
Tlingit property law.
It seemed fitting that I should also be able to collaborate
with her on her biography. She was already in her early
nineties when she began to discuss her life history.
Her hearing had begun to fail and it was necessary for
me to speak directly into her ear. She also tired easily,
and we found that it was best for her if we worked in
short intervals. She seemed to be quite eager to work
with us if it proceeded more as an informal discussion.
My familiarity with Jennie was an asset, but it became
apparent during our initial work that it was sometimes
a disadvantage. Dr. Smythe, who was present during our
discussions, began to ask her questions that I had overlooked
because I assumed I already knew much about her life.
We decided that it would be best if he continued to
play a formal role in the work on her life history.
She would also occasionally lapse into Tlingit, and
Johnny Marks, another relative of both Grandma Jennie’s
and mine, assisted in the translations.
After we finished writing Grandma Jennie’s life
history, we sent copies of it to members of her family.
John Marks also reviewed and commented on the biography.
In the years after we finished the biography, Grandma
Jennie would often recount incidents in her life, and
I was always so amazed that it seemed to be a verbatim
account that she had given to us earlier. It indeed
has been a pleasure to us to know that when her life
history was read to Grandma Jennie, she smiled and seemed
to be satisfied with the work.
R.W.
Click here to continue reading “Jennie
Thlunaut” Biography Part 2
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