Aug 2, 2015 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Relationship Overdrive, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The famous MV Princeton Hall, Aurora Harbor, Juneau, Alaska – August 2015
This was the sail of my lifetime. Just a one-day sail. I grew up seeing this classic wooden boat and had always admired the lines and grace by which it sailed. 50 years later, and with an overnight notice, I had the opportunity to drop all else and jump the sail. I had also made a decision that when I board this beauty, I would begin my journey into learning how to speak the native tongue of my mother’s: Tlingit. Little did I know that almost every adult on board either spoke the language fluently or they were learners and teachers of the language!
Bessie Coolie, Nora Dauenhauer, her daughter Della Florendo, and Marsha Hotch
It was obvious to me that I am to learn my language as the syncronicity of me being aboard the ship of language instructors cannot be denied. The women above are keepers and sharers of the language.
Additional visitors on board this day sail of which I did not catch the names, however, I had to show the galley!
Norma Shorty (3 young gals I did not catch their names), Kathy Ruddy
Kathy Ruddy, James Crippen, his boss ?, and Alice Taft
Kathy Ruddy is the owner of this wonderful ship; she invited every person on board for this one-day sail. She provided a brief history of the making of this boat built in Sitka by a crew of woodworkers under the guidance of Andrew Hope I in 1942 commissioned by the Presbyterian Church as their missionary travel took them to every small community in Southeast Alaska for 20 years (until the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system came into being).
“The History of Fort Durham in Taku Harbor” by Wallace (Wally) C. Olson
Sailing south under the Juneau-Douglas bridge
The southern tip of Douglas Island called “Marmion Island” which as a child in the 60’s my father would take our entire family and camp out just to the right of that tiny peninsula – there was once a small cabin directly at the tree line; instead of camping in a wall tent, we camped in the cabin
The bow is filled with visitors as we come into Taku Harbor
Taku Harbor
Bessie Coolie tells Norma and I that her father was born here in Taku Harbor; she had never been to his birth place until this day
The bow of the beautifully-crafted MV Princeton Hall docked at Taku Harbor
Pulling away from Taku Harbor, we sail into the famous mist as we turn into Gastineau Channel
This is where the sky meets ocean and we are the “in-betweeners”
James Crippen whittles away at a piece of alder wood
So above not necessarily so below
More Alaskan ocean and sky scenery
More fabulous landscape of sky, mountains, mist and sea…
Sailing down Gastineau Channel: Douglas Island on the left, and the town of Juneau at the base of Mt. Juneau on the right
Returning to space A-2 at the Aurora Harbor, Juneau, Alaska
Aug 1, 2015 | Latest Art Projects, Ravens & Eagles, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Collected from rifle ranges, these .22 bullet shells just got cleaned…!
Born to the Tlingit T’akDeinTaan Raven Clan from Glacier Bay, Alaska, I cannot help be the scavenger, a natural-born trait of ravens. Last year, Raven weavers Ricky Tagaban and my daughter Lily Hope collected .22 bullet shells from the Juneau rifle range as trim for the warp of their weavings; I had had the same idea when I saw bullet shells at a friend’s house. So what was the first thing I did when I returned to Juneau!?
Mariella models the 5-piece Chilkat woven ensemble “Chilkat Child” — the apron, headdress and leggings are all trimmed with .22 bullet shells (photo courtesy of Yukon News)
Jul 29, 2015 | Acting Out and Musical Chairs, Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Retired Juneau police officer Ben Coronell allows Grandma Suzi to sit on his lap, while his wife Penny laughs along with everyone else
Sharon Shorty is Grandma Suzi and her comedian partner is Duane Gastant’ Aucoin as Cache Creek Charlie. They both live in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. These photos were taken during the last feast during the 3-day “HaaKusTeYea” Celebration at the Teslin Cultural Center. Generally, I write a dialogue to accompany the photographs in my blog posts. In this case, I just let the photographs speak for themselves. All I can say is that not only were the comedians totally outlandish, and I laughed hard till I cried, I totally enjoyed watching the “victims” laugh like had never seen them laugh! Grandma Suzi and Cache Creek Charlie are excellent medicine. If they ever come to your neck of the woods or you go to theirs, catch them!
It was a good feeling to see our Tsimpshian carver David Boxley, Sr. laugh as hard as he did — and we laughed to will cried…!
Alias Duane Gastant’ Aucoin and Sharon Shorty from Whitehorse, Yukon are Charlie and Suzi
David dances the “grouse mating dance” while Grandma Suzi can’t contain herself…!
The “grouse” chases after his chosen “mate.”
the audience laughed as long and as hard as they…!
Creek Charlie pulled fashion designer Dorothy Grant up from her chair and made her get on her back like a rag doll and exclaimed “I am wearing Dorothy Grant…” (as opposed to “I am wearing A Dorthy Grant!”
Jul 28, 2015 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Gwen Wally from Teslin finished her Ravenstail headband for her uncle just moments before he danced
We were all so happy again to cram ourselves into setting up the “weaver’s cabin” on the shores of Lake Teslin during the bi-ennial “Haa KusTeYea” Celebration. The cabin has wonderful light, natural air conditioning, feels simply rustic and is accommodating to the number of weavers who come from around the territory. During the three days together, it is a good feeling to see weavers who brought projects that had been sitting on the loom that they wanted to finish, OR they started a new project.
Clarissa demonstrates Jennie Thlunaut’s unique fingering to Kassua, a young budding Ravenstail weaver from Carcross
Most of the women who are want to learn to weave are middle-aged or older; they are the ones whose families are all grown up and no longer they have responsibilities of taking care of others to the degree that they had been. Every now and then we will have a youngster in her early 20s who is not yet married nor with children. However, this time, we had a 10-year-old girl named Kassua Dreyer who mother and she enrolled in the class. Mother and daughter students are always a plus in that they can each teach and reinforce one another as they learn both in class and at home.
Vanessa Morgan from Kincolith on the Nass River, B.C. begins weaving a Chilkat “ghost face” bag
Dedicated returning students such as Vanessa Morgan, Alice Tidell, Diane Knopp, Ricky Tagaban and Gwen Wally are always appreciated by us teachers. Every now and then new students’ bravery joins us like Doris and Kassua Dreyer and elders like Mary L. Lekanof. We know that they sacrifice their time, energy, and money to be here learning more each time. It’s inspiring to watch them as I too am reminded of how I once was when pursing the weaving of Chilkat.
Once again the class resumes its natural position in the small cabin at the Teslin Cultural Center on the shores of Lake Teslin, Yukon Territory. For the past three “Haa KusTeYea” Celebrations, we have been gathering And every year there is always a new group of weavers, and sometimes the old diehards return (i.e. Vanessa, Ricky, etc.). L to R: Diane Knopp, Vanessa Morgan, Alice Tidell, Doris and Kassua Dreyer (and Kassua’s friend), and Mary L. Lekanof
From Carcross, Yukon Doris Dreyer figures out the bunch-berry design!
Ravenstail weaver, Alice Tidell from Sitka, Alaska holds the Ravenstail bag she began weaving which we transferred from a borrowed headboard to an alderwood stick whittled by James Crippen
With a Chilkat/Ravenstail robe started in the background for the Teslin Cultural Center, Lanugage instructor and assistant professor at the University of Alaska Southeast, Lance Twitchell is freed for a moment from daddy duties allowing weaver Ricky Tagaban to hold Lance’s newborn babe.
Diana Knopp from Whitehorse, Yukon tries to remember where she is at in her weaving
Jul 27, 2015 | North Tide, Ravens & Eagles, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Wayne Carlick and his wife Debra Michel from Atlin, B.C. enjoy berry dessert after a fabulous dinner
2015 is the 4th bi-ennial “Kus Te Yea” Celebration held at the Teslin Cultural Center, Teslin, Yukon every odd year from Juneau’s Celebration held on even years. Most of the audience is from out of town since Teslin is only a community of less than 500(?) people. People come from Atlin, Whitehorse, Carcross, and of course Teslin. Then there are the Alaskan communities who are beginning to catch on to this special event which is free to the public; no one pays for the event, not even the dancers or the non-Natives.
Lieutenant Governor of Alaska Byron Mallott dances for the people of Teslin for acknowledging and honoring him and his family
I have been to every Celebration in Teslin since the first one in 2009. Every year there are a few more new attendees and there are those who return every year no matter what. That’s how I am too: I return every year no matter what. Why?
Nahaan FastFromEnglish from Seattle enjoys the company of many locals and vice versa!
I return because the people and landscape of Yukon Territory are “raw” and down to earth; there are no pretenses, no game-playing, no trying to be somebody you aren’t. Like the landscape, the people of Yukon are very real…they have to be. The environment and weather makes you be so.
I remember my long-time friend, musician singer/songwriter, Buddy Tabor making his annual trek to Yukon every year in the late Summer. He was always eager to visit his friends and make the drive through the raw territory. He said that he needed his fix; a fix that reminded him of the Alaska that once was before the oil money made things different. Buddy passed away in 2012. I never got to share my experiences and feelings about Yukon though I share them whenever I meet those who knew him and whenever I make that sojourn drive like he did.
Marieh and Lance Twitchell and family from Juneau enjoy the feast
Unlike the Celebrations in Juneau, Alaska (held on the even years), the “KusTeYea” Celebration is free; even the dinners are free. No one pays anything except when they take one of the workshops and pay for the materials and supplies. Some of those workshops include paddle carving, bentwood box making, snow shoe making, cedar bark weaving and Chilkat or Ravenstail weaving. Demonstrations include brain-tanned moosehide, preparing and smoking fish, and the infamous salmon fillet contest…not to mention the canoe rides and canoe races.
William Wasden from Alert Bay, B.C. enjoys the company of the beauitful women of Yukon
The event is held in the cultural center and on the shores of Lake Teslin. There are not enough motels/hotels in Teslin (only 2). Visitors camp out in the designated areas with full-fledged campsites including elaborate outdoor kitchens, or they have a happy RV camper or a small dome tent suffices.
The canoes from various local communities (including Wayne Price’s dugout from Haines, Alaska), take a rest for the evening before another day of canoe races and canoe rides on Lake Teslin
There are several dance groups that perform each night; one from Carcross, another from Atlin, Whitehorse and of course, Teslin. Each night the group will do the invitational dance calling out all the various tribes and nationalities called “Gusuu Wa Eh!?” Translation: “Where Are You?” The name of the tribe (or nationality) is called out and if you are from that tribe or nationality, you come on out and show your stuff and drop money onto the “money blanket” which is placed on the floor in front of the stage. It’s fun; and of course there is always a clown who has to make everyone laugh about him and themselves!
Oh yeah, that’s a nice beaded leather jacket we got going on during the invitational dance!
I prepare for this Celebration every year. I look forward with happy anticipation knowing fully well that I become more comfortable with our Inland Tlingit relatives and vice versa, I believe they have become more comfortable with me. Much like the Celebration in Juneau, it’s like a family reunion.
Every night for the 3 days of Celebration, a feast is prepared by 3 different communities: Teslin, Carcross and Atlin
Who is that man staring into the camera? He’s the head hauncho who runs the Teslin Cultural Center; he’s the big Kahuna — yes he does have a name: Kip! Thank you Kip for leading your staff to another great Celebration
Pam Craig (Seattle) with her mother Carol (Juneau) and son, Keet
The Tsimpshian “Git Hoan” Dancers from Metlakatla led by carver David Boxley, Sr. were the special guests during Celebration
The up and coming generation: Yeil Yadi (Sitka), ?, and Ricky Tagaban (Juneau)
Jul 13, 2015 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act, Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Tools-of-the-Trade |
7-year-old Elizabeth Hope reads the step-by-step instructions out loud on how to make a drum
Sealaska Heritage Institute sponsors the “Baby Raven Reads” program which mainly teaches young children how to read yet also conducts other cultural projects for the young minds and bodies. This past Sunday, Mary Folletti taught the drum making class for children and their families took place for a couple of hours at the Gajaa Hit Building near the ANB Hall in Juneau. Thank you Davina Cole, project coordinator from SHI…!
Prepared raw hide is soaked in water
The drum making kits were purchased from a supply store in Centralia, Washington State at Centralia Fur and Hide Company (their website is of the same name). The kits included the pre-bent wood frame, the pre-cut circle of hide and the raw hide threads.
A few tools and supplies needed for drum making: needle-nose pliers, hammer, scissors, push pins and “Tightbond” wood glue
My grand-daughter Elizabeth and I were one of approximately 20 Juneau families who took this class. Most of the children were around 4 to 7 years of age, though there were a few younger.
After the raw hide has soaked, place on a flat surface smooth side down with pencil markings facing down; pat with a towel to absorb excess moisture
For many years my friend, Becky Etukeok made drums from local hides such as deer, moose, and caribou. After taking this class I have a larger admiration towards her dedication to this art form. I had never seen how drums were made nor had the appreciation of how they were made until doing this simple class where all the hard work was done for us. Although Beckie now is the program director of arts at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, she is still known as “Beckie Drum-maker.”
Soak spiral-cut, 3/8″ “threads
When threading, pull so there’s no slack, but not too tight as that will make your drum too high pitch.
Instructor Mary Folletti demonstrates how to begin threading
How to include your young child in making a drum:
* Let your child explore the materials (sinew, frame, hide) while you name them.
* Talk about how the frame is a circle. Ask what shape the hide is and why it’s bigger than the frame
* Ask what the different materials feel like (smooth, wet)
* Ask or explain where the materials comes from (deer, tree, intestines)
* Count the holes together, name the tools (hammer, pliers, scissors)
* They can help pull the sinew through
* The can help “pull tight”
* They can help hammer tacks with close supervision
Begin threading through one hole and tie a half hitch knot
Thread through the hole directly across the first hole, and repeat
Clarissa helps her grand-daughter Elizabeth how to create a handle
Most everyone in the class has created their “star” pattern
I had a blast making this drum with my grand-daughter Elizabeth. I look forward to doing more cultural things with all of my grandchildren as they grow up.
Some drum makers fold rawhide between the threaded areas over the frame and hammer a tack in each section to hold it down.
When you have completed your drum, make sure you take the thumb tacks out and let your drum dry on a clean, flat surface, face up. Depending on your climate: it takes about 2 days to dry in Alaska, though at 7000 feet where the climate is a bit drier like the 4-corners area of the United States, the drum may not even take a day to dry!
Directly after creating the handle and pushing the raw edges of the leather to the inside of the drum, with her strong fingers, Elizabeth carefully smoothes the frame removing all the big folds and wrinkles – you must do this step as soon as possible before the hide even starts to dry
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DRUM:
Your drum was made out of an animal and a tree and some say the drum is a living being so you want to honor its spirit with love and respect
Store it wrapped in cotton, wool, or a custom drum bag face up or on a wall. Keep it from extreme temperatures and direct sunlight as heat may cause it to crack.
Water expands and heat constricts. On sunny days you can mist with a damp cloth or spray bottle. If your drum is cold you can warm it slowly, using your own skin as a gauge.
Clean with a slightly damp cloth. You can condition with Shea butter bought from cedarmountaindrums.com
Careful not to set anything on your drum and remember to play your drum often. It wants to sing!
Mary Folletti teaches some of the kids how to do various beats with their new drums and drumsticks
How to make a drumstick:
You will need a stick, padding (cotton or wool cloth), sinew, and a piece of buckskin.
1) Put glue on one end of stick covering 1″ down around the whole stick.
2) Wrap padding around end of stick that you glued, snuggly not to tight.
3) Use sinew and wrap around padding a dozen times crisscrossing, then tie off on stick behind padding.
4) Center Buckskin on end of padded end, pull down stick and hold snug behind padding then wrap sinew very tightly around buckskin and stick 7 to 9 times; tie off using scissors to trim excess buckskin
Jul 11, 2015 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
L to R: Dorothy Grant, Vicki Soboleff, Catrina Mitchell, Nancy Barnes (Jr.), and Clarissa Rizal sport Dorothy Grant’s beautiful designer clothing
During the final hour of the Sealaska Corporation’s annual meeting, my friend Rhonda Mann and I took a jaunt over to Dorothy Grant’s booth of her designer clothing. Of course we went wild over the blues! And it turns out that after a half hour of having a ball, all of us danced away with a Dorothy Grant!
For those of you who want to know about our top Northwest Coast Native designer of 35 years, check out her website at: www.dorothygrant.com
Jul 9, 2015 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Depending on the size of your copper T’naa’s, you will need a variety of tools show above…You Can never have too many tools….!
I would go into defining what a copper T’naa is however, my time is truly booked and I want to post this sooner than later because there are so many additional posts to post right now I am back-logged! I haven’t been able to keep up with myself!
If you don’t know what Copper T’naa’s are, I suggest you do a little research on line.
Donald Gregory’s small copper T’naa patterns with small photos of actual life-size T’naa’s
Local Juneau Tlingit artist, Donald Gregory was gracious enough to teach me how to make these small copper “gems!” So precious are our tiny pieces of metal that I take the learning of making these things to heart. I asked Donald if he would teach me because I want to someday make a button robe with nothing but T’naa’s adorning the robe…it’s a lot of work, though so worth bringing the vision of what is imagined into this tangible form!
various sizes of hand files, a hole punch and a small hand-drill
As most artists know, having the right equipment and right tools makes the experience of whatever it is you are creating, worth your while!
A variety of hammers for making copper T’naa’s
A variety of cutting devices for making copper T’naa’s
A variety of sizes of (?)…I swear I don’t remember what these are called…!
electric dremel, cutting and guage tools
hahaha! Lol. — I don’t remember what these are called either…but they are used to score the vertical and horizontal lines within each copper
The following are a sequence of photos to demonstrate the process of making the copper T’naa’s. I envision you will use these images as a tool to help guide your work in making the T’naa’s. Though as usual, the best way to learn anything is directly from it’s maker!
Choose the right size pattern
Using Sharpie marker, draw your T’naa directly onto the copper
With metal cutters, cut the shape of your T’naa
score
Bend 1st score before scoring second score
gently pound the copper into a shape using your base block
Using “that” tool begin repouse, lightly tapping to begin making concave top
First use the scoring tool to create the dent where you want your earring loop hole, then use small hand-drill to drill the hole
Using hand file, file down the rough edges of your T’naa
