Jul 29, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Jackie Kookesh wraps red willow shaping her first fish trap
There are a variety of activities held during Teslin’s Kus Te Yea Celebration; these include the sharing of songs and dance through the various dance groups from Whitehorse, Carcross, Atlin, Teslin and other towns about Southeast Alaska (i.e. Yakutat!), a hearty breakfast and nightly feast for each of three days open to all who attend, an artist market, a food market, a tent just for stick-gambling, artist demos and classes, but also the hands-on making of the practical things like fish traps, fish-fileting, smoking moose hide, cedar hat making, Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving, and of course, frying bannock!
Glued “sinew” hold the ends of the fish trap
I’ve just included a few photos to show you what you missed. Teslin’s Celebration is held during the third weekend in June on the “off” year from Juneau’s Celebration. There’s no excuse for not attending. Mark your calendars now for June 2015. This is not a commercial venue, you need not pay to attend, although you can spend as much money as you want at the Cultural Center’s gift shop and at the artist market!
Nearly completed fish trap
Margaret checks her time on smoking moose hide
Margaret uses cedar chips to start and fuel her fire…
Pine cones are burned to smoke the moosehide giving it a medium reddish-brown color – orange peels were burned to create a burnt orange color of the moose hide. For those who don’t know, moose hide is an off-white color before it is smoked.
Benjamin Scheifelman, carver and metalsmith from Teslin, demonstrates the creation of a copper T’naa pendant
One of Ben’s students hand-pounds texture into the copper
A few tools of copper-smithing
Carver silversmith Wayne Price from Haines, Alaska demonstrates the next step in carving cedar dance paddles
Wayne demonstrates “shaving” the paddle for young student
A fine sealskin roll-up satchel houses Wayne’s carving tools
- Nothing quite like the inland Tlingit bead workers in leather
Fresh, friend bannock for the evening’s community feast!
Jul 29, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
A dugout canoe on the shores of Teslin Lake, Yukon, created in 2009 by a group of First Nations carvers from the Whitehorse area of Yukon under the guidance of master carver, Wayne Price from Haines, Alaska
Juneau photographer Ron Klein, directs everyone for a beautiful photo shoot.
A beautiful sunny afternoon for a group photo!
Close up…!
Lots of elders
Still more elders…!
Shaadootlaa!
Debra Michel and Wayne Carlick from Atlin, B.C.
The fiberglass canoes…beautifully, colorful and quiet on the shores of Teslin Lake
Jul 29, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The “weavers’ cabin” during “Kus Te Yea” Celebration 2013 in Teslin, Yukon Territory
I had told the weavers about the Kus Te Yea Celebration 2013 in Teslin. This biennial event is held in the odd-numbered years from “Celebration” sponsored by the Sealaska Heritage Institute held in Juneau, Alaska in the even-numbered years. This is 2013; the odd year we’ve been waiting for; time to head to Teslin!
We knew that we wanted to attend the event, we just didn’t know where we were going to stay since none of us brought complete camping equipment, although we were ready to get additional equipment and camp out if we had to just like everyone else! However, a week before Celebration 2013, we were invited to come out and demonstrate; – they had a space all ready for us as if they were expecting us to come! We checked out of our comfy apartment in Whitehorse closing up that part of our Weavers’ Tour (click here if you missed the Whitehorse story) and were up for another adventure!
Looking through the screen windows at a lovely weaving scene!
The cabin designated for the weavers to demonstrate is an uninsulated wooden shell with screened windows without glass. We removed the wooden shutters for added light, air, view and ambiance! There are “skylights” and all of us just jumped with joy – what a perfect place to weave! And all our very own for three whole days!? Wow! Thank you Kus Te Yea organizers for our very own space!
Jackie Kookesh and Ricky Tagaban share spinning techniques while Teahonna James sets up her table-top weaving loom
Immediately the very first day just as we were setting up, Ricky Tagaban and Jackie Kookesh surprised us – we didn’t know they were coming! Also others from a couple of years ago returned: Dan Shorty and Tatiana (?), and two others whose names have slipped me. Pretty soon we had four people spinning and four people weaving. Fun!
Vanessa Morgan explains to her audience how she first got involved in Chilkat weaving and the design story of her child-size Chilkat robe
Crowds of visitors, far and near, visited us. One of the most rewarding things about demonstrating Chilkat weaving is to provide the visual, tactile information about the amount of work involved in just preparing the materials BEFORE you begin to weave. Demonstrating educates the general public (and even our own people) about the spinning process as well as the actual weaving. I am delighted when visitors are amazed at how we spin the warp on our thigh. No matter what age, they are always shocked. So much fun.
Crystal Rogers listens to Chief Dan (from Carcross, Y.T.) tell a story pertaining to weaving in his family
Also, it is an educational experience for us as various individuals who come to see what we are doing; more often than not they have a story to tell in regards to a relative or friend who was (or currently is or wants to be) a weaver. Or they tell us a story regarding an old robe and how it was sold, or how it disappeared or how much it cost when it sold. We hear many, many stories from our audience. Storytelling is a big aspect of weaving. We discover that when we demonstrate the art of weaving, we also learn to listen to the stories involved with weaving – our active listening skills are improved. In so doing, we are learning while we teach and demonstrate. The act of listening to our visitor’s stories is a large part of our “oral history.”
Clarissa’s child-size Chilkat robe now has eyes – to be able to see out into her world…as she now is able to “see” into her child-size robe. Although Clarissa has designed her robe, as she weaves along, she understands that the design of the robe is subject to change – during the course of a woven garment, things are felt, heard and “seen”, and sometimes it changes the course of history, and subsequently the design…
There is nothing quite like watching a weaving take its course. The texture of the weave does depend on the weaver’s skill, however, there are always other factors like the fineness of the warp (the yarns that hang down), as well as your particular mood that moment, that hour, that day.
Packed up, doing last-minute clean-up, and Celebration is over; and while it is true that the Teslin Celebration organizers invited us to come demonstrate Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving at this sweet cabin where great memories and connections were laid, already we lay claim to weave, spin and teach during the next Celebration 2015!–look out, we are returning!
Weaving also creates a certain kind of tension whether it be within us or without us – tension is an aspect of weaving; there are at least two,…tactile tension and psychological tension. Tension keeps us on our toes, it helps build up and it can also help let down. Living in close proximity with other weavers always causes a bit of tension; it’s natural. We learn to adjust to the various personality traits. We learn to tolerate. We learn to support. We learn to take care of one another and watch out for one another. We learn respect. We are always learning as we weave our webs.
Jul 28, 2013 | Honoring Others, Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The Mt. Fairweather Dancers from Hoonah, Alaska prepare to do their performance in honor of Huna Totem Corporation’s 40th year while shareholder members gather together at the fire pit along the board walk that leads one way to the Cannery Site and the other way to the Resturaunt
Huna Totem Corporation had sent out an RFP to their shareholder artists requesting a design in whatever medium the artist chose to represent their vision statement for the future: “…sailing the canoe of our ancestor’s into the future…” My design of a button robe was commissioned. Click here to the blog entry of the design.
(Note: In this blog entry you won’t be seeing any photographs of other activities during the 40th celebration because I didn’t attend any others due to a time constraint – I was only at the celebration for not quite an hour.)
After the first “coming in” dance, the Mt. Fairweather Dancers turn their backs against the audience to show each dancer’s clan emblem
During that same weekend of July 26, 27 and 28 was in Teslin, Yukon for the weekend demonstrating Chilkat weaving with several of my apprentices during their biennial “Kus Te Yea Celebration 2013”. (click here to read the blog entry on the Celebration event.) Huna Totem implored me to come down to Hoonah on the day of their event, Saturday the 27th, to do the presentation of the robe and explain the design; they wanted me to do this in person so I was plugged into the agenda at 1:30pm. Even though I really didn’t want to leave my students and to leave the Teslin Celebration for a day, I agreed to go to Hoonah (especially since Huna Totem has been good to me, I will do the same for them!)
Young children, Fran Franolovich, Lillian Hillman and Marlene Johnson enjoying the youth of the Mt. Fairweather Dancers
I don’t know what other events happened during the day at Huna’s 40th celebration because I really didn’t have time to partake in the events, so I cannot give you any other information other than tell you about my spectacular drive from Teslin to Skagway and the return flight from Hoonah to Skagway via Juneau and Haines. (Click here to see the blog entry on the return flight from Hoonah to Skagway.)
Huna Totem Board Members and M.C. Kenny Grant are invited to dance with the Mt. Fairweather Dancers
The drive from Teslin to Skagway was 3 hours; absolutely one of the most beautiful drives in the world! (I kept in mind that Yukon time is one hour ahead of Alaska time.) I caught the plane from Skagway to Juneau at 11:45am; it was a 45 minute flight to Juneau; then caught the 12:45pm 20-minute flight to Hoonah arriving a little bit after 1pm and by the time I arrived at the Cannery Point, it was about 1:45 and luckily the program was running a little late, I had just enough time to eat a bag of chips, briefly say hello to Kogo Hugo and meet her mother from Japan, and say hello to Florence Sheakley and check out her beaded earrings, and then it was time to do the presentation. After explaining the design (click here for blog entry on the robe design and explanation), I had about 10 minutes to enjoy the rest of the Mt. Fairweather Dancers’ performance and then I was whisked away and caught the outbound flight to Juneau at 3:30 with board members of the Huna Totem; we arrived in Juneau by 4:00. I had an hour to hang out at the consignment shop “Alaska Dames” before catching the 5:30 flight to Skagway via Haines. The pilot said he just had to take a few extra minutes and do a flight like that since the weather was so perfectly beautiful!
The flight from Juneau to Haines was phenomenal (click here to see the blog entry on that fabulous flight); the pilot took us on a scenic flight of the local glaciers in the Juneau area: the Mendenhall, Peterson 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 Cover (where I once had land), 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!
By the time I arrived in Skagway, it was 7pm (that’s 8pm Yukon time). I could have spent the night in Skagway, but I just wanted to make the drive back to Teslin and wake up to another day of demonstrating in our little “weavers’ cabin” on Teslin Lake for the last day of Teslin’s “Kus Te Yea.” I got detained at the Yukon Alaska border because I got into a half-hour conversation with the border guard about politics, art, cultural integration, etc. It was already 9:30 by the time I left the border and I was getting tired. I had to pull over a couple of times to rest; I was avoiding falling asleep at the wheel. The weather was beautiful the entire day; the night was just as astounding. At this time of year, the sky does not get totally dark, so there are no stars to see, though the natural evening midnight sun light was gorgeous; everything looked “rosie.” I passed 3 cars during the entire drive from Skagway to Teslin, arriving at midnight. And there were never any cars behind me. I suppose I was the only car heading North from Skagway for those particular hours. It was eerie. I don’t think I will do that drive by myself again!
Mentor and Dance Instructor Billy Wilson rests while he watches his “children” do the songs and dances
This particular Raven Dancer knows how to strut!
The pride and unity of the Mt. Fairweather Dancers!
During my brief visit to this event in Hoonah, I looked about me at all the folks who came out to help celebrate Huna Totem’s 40th year – everyone looked so familiar even though many of the people I did not recognize. I looked about and realized that the elders that I was used to seeing were no longer; I realized that the folks who were just 10 to 20 years older than me were really not that much older than me! whoa! I am becoming one of those elders! Holy moly!
After spending an entire month with the in-land Tlingit in Yukon where there is no ocean, no ocean smell, not as much moisture in the air, I truly felt like I fit in with those people, yet, coming down to Hoonah even for an hour, I felt a true kinship with the land here too, of course with its people – my clan the T’akDeinTaan are originally from here – we were branched down from the Coho from the Alsek River in the Yakutat area – I have to remember that I am a “coastal Native” (as the in-land Tlingit define us).
M.C. Kenny Grant reads the real copy of Clarissa’s latest brochure. He was going to read from a xerox copy of the brochure that someone handed to him so he could introduce Clarissa properly when she presents the button robe she was commissioned to create in honor of Huna Totem’s 40th year; when Clarissa saw that his was a copy and not the real thing, she presented him with his own very real brochure! Kenny’s immediate response: “Hey,…this is MUCH BETTER! Now I can actually READ it!”
I would post a photo of myself presenting the Button robe that I recently completed for Huna Totem’s 40th, but I didn’t take a photo of me explaining the design to the celebration audience. I will post one as soon as someone emails or texts me a photo image of it! In the meantime, click here to see the design and creation of the button robe BEFORE delivering the completed robe to Huna Totem.
Gunal’cheesh Hoho! Thank you very much for visiting my blog and reading this entry!
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 23, 2013 | Honoring Others, Ravens & Eagles |
Anna Beaver’s ashes in a box covered by a cloth embellished with a small beaded “T’naa” by Anna when she was a child
The first time I met Anna Beaver was during a portrait documentary project that her daughter Donna Beaver Pizzarelli and I were photographing during Celebration 2004 in Juneau. A gracious, generous, thoughtful woman who not only brought us food during our crazy three days of photographing dancers in their regalia all the while we forgetting to eat, but also she beadworked name tags for the four of us who were collaborating together on this project: Liana Wallace Young, Rhonda Mann, Donna and myself. Since then, I hadn’t seen her much except now and then when we would run into one another at an art fair selling our wares.
Beadwork and doll-maker, Anna Beaver – photo by Donna Beaver Pizzarelli
Hand-made dolls by Anna Beaver – photo by Donna Beaver Pizzarelli
Clarissa, Anna Beaver and Rhonda – Auke Bay 2005 – photo by Donna Beaver Pizzarelli
We took a small catamaran to the back side of Douglas Island, a place called “Hilda Creek” where Anna and her family would harvest foods from the land and sea
The last time I saw Anna Beaver was just three weeks before she passed away on Sunday, July 14th. Rhonda and I had heard she was not doing well and I was scheduled to jump a ferry to Skagway to head up to Whitehorse the next day so we thought we better get a visit in. Rhonda, Donna and Donna’s sister, Delores Weathers and I sat around for at least two hours at Anna’s bedside telling young women dumb stories gossiping about ourselves…we shared, teased and we laughed until we cried. Anna could hardly get a word in edgewise, though she was very happy.
family members and relatives gathered inside
Anna seemed like she could go either way; she could get better or she could be “letting go.” This time she “let go.” Upon hearing her passing, I was in my room in Whitehorse preparing to teach a few more tricks-of-the-trade to my students; I had to sit still and gaze out the window. In one day two of my friends’ mothers passed away this same day just within four hours of one another. All time stood still for those moments as I remembered too my own mother, Irene Loling Sarabia Lampe. Our mothers are special people. We miss our mothers. Till the day we pass, not a day goes by without thinking of them and every now and then we can “feel” their presence. It’s a fine day.
Anna Beaver’s children L to R: Delores, Debbie, Darlene, Donna and Darren
Click here to read Anna Beaver’s obituary in the Juneau Empire . Anna was the daughter of Amos Wallace, T’akDeinTaan Clan originally from Hoonah, Alaska who was a famous totem pole carver and silversmith (amongst many other talents). Click here to read Amos’ obituary in the Juneau Empire
Rhonda, Clarissa and Donna
Tom Jimmie, Jr. sang a Kaagwaantaan song
Anna’s sister holds a bouquet of a dozen white roses
A plate of some of Anna’s favorite foods were “sent” with her ashes – this is a tradition of many tribes throughout Southeast Alaska – we believe we keep alive the spirit of the departed one by “feeding” them. We want to let them know we will remember them. They “assist” us from their place as we acknowledge and continue to appreciate them from here.
Hilda Creek in the background, Anna’s ashes, bouquets, food and lost of love were spread into the ocean
White roses accompany the ashes of Anna Beaver – photo by Donna Beaver Pizzarelli
Appropriately, the opposite clan the T’akDeinTaan, Anna’s father’s clan song was sung by Irene Jean Lampe accompanied by Tom Jimmie (T.J.), Jr.
- Donna Beaver Pizzarelli’s (yellow pants) and friends, Rhonda Mann (blue pants) and Clarissa Rizal (red jacket)
Donna and her husband, Al Pizzarelli
Jul 15, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others |
Teahonna James weaves under the white “artists” tent at the Atlin Music Festival July 12, 13, & 14, 2013
I thank Louise Gordon who invited us to come to Atlin; she asked us to set up our looms under one of their art demo/class tents. I had heard of this festival since it’s inception over 20 years ago; I heard the excellent music by excellent musicians and the art and food, in a land of rare beauty. We were fortunate to experience all these things. I had wished I made my way to this heaven earlier. Though now I have walked this land and breathed it’s air and soaked up its light, I have a bit of Atlin in me and I know I can and shall return.
Crystal and Vanessa weave on their child-size Chilkat robes demonstrating during the Atlin Music Festival 2013 in Atlin, British Columbia, Canada
We have been in Whitehorse for almost 4 weeks; the first week we attended the Adaka Festival and we attended a Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving class was taught by Ann Smith and Clarissa Rizal. Please visit the blog entry about the class (click here) and the Adaka Festival (click here). At the Adaka opening ceremonial event, we created the “Weavers’ Dance” (click here) to honor the woven robes in both Ravenstail and Chilkat.
A better view of Vanessa weaving her child-size Chilkat robe
Find out more about the Atlin Music Festival in Atlin, British Columbia, Canada, please visit their website at: http://www.atlinfestival.ca/
Campers, camper vans, RVs of all sizes, from a variety of states and provinces, congregate in this big open field near downtown Atlin.
I have to admit, surprisingly I felt kind of out of place in Atlin. Though it reminds me of old Juneau in ways and definitely familiar mountains, lakes, and trees, the place seems like an old Hippie-ville – a place where old hippies reside and where young hippies who are not quite retired go to visit and wish they could live there but cannot afford it because lack of “normal 9 to 5 income. Does this mean that I don’t see myself as a hippie? Yes.
I cannot say I’ve ever seen anything like this house except maybe the Egyptian Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Like where else are we gonna find a pyramid house? A hippie house.
A portion of the near-waterfront is designated for tent campers – of course there are young folk; some brought their dogs.
A lemonade stands on the hill above the lakeside performance tent catering to thirsty passer-byes in the warm weather.
Hawksley Workman (wearing the hat) performed several times during the Atlin Music Festival – he was my favorite act because the way I see it, he naturally moves from his heart and I could see this by the way he naturally stood with his chest “leading” out from his body as his voice reached up and out powerfully to the mountains and back. Fun, superb performer.
In a dirt parking lot on the side of the road, I saw a crowd of about 20 huddled around a table – I stopped in my tracks and wondered what was going on. One of my most favorite surprises was to run into Michelle Genest and her husband Hector. I had first met Michelle not just a month prior on the ferry from Juneau to Skagway; she was intrigued with the Chilkat weaving. She had introduced herself as a writer and cook; little did I know that she was a fantastic writer and just as well, cook!
Chef Extraordinaire and writer Michelle Genest flips a few more sourdough pancakes cooked with high-bush cranberries while festival goers taste her cuisine
Michelle served us up with these made-from-scratch high-bush cranberry pancakes topped with spruce tip syrup — absolutely fabulous first thing in the morning breathing fresh, crisp air. Clean fresh air makes all the difference in the way food tastes; people don’t know this unless they experience clean fresh air like Atlin.
I bought her latest book “The Borealis Gourmet” Adventures in Northern Cooking featuring Yukon’s indigenous, flavorful boreal ingredients. She and Hector were on their “tour” of Yukon wild-harvesting fruits, saps, herbs and veggies – setting up their elegant camp kitchen that they tuck back into their little silver sporty-looking Honda (or was it a Toyota?)
Notice my new red Bogs bought from Shoefly store in Juneau: the latest in technological footwear makes me feel like I am wearing a pair of very warm, waterproof moccasins – I bought them specifically for being outdoors on beaches collecting seaweed for garden mulch, or picking the nagoon berry fields, or running a wet, smooth firm beach, or jumping puddles! Note: I did not say that I would use them on cement in the city.
Two of my favorite books: “The Borealis Gourmet” by Michelle Genest and a great companion to this Northern cookbook, “The Borealis Herbal” – Wild food and medicinal plants of the North by Beverly Gray
For those of you who are harvesters of wild foods and herbs in Yukon and Alaska, and you like to cook, these are the two books for you! Now that I am no longer tied down with the schedules of child-rearing with the school system time-frame, I can run around in the mountains, bogs, woods and the beach harvesting food! It’s fabulous. Being on the land and sea harvesting one’s food, getting fresh air and exercise is a very grounded spiritual existence. It is what indigenous people always refer to as “our way of life.”
Jul 5, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, North Tide, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
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
Jul 4, 2013 | Class Act, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
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
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!
Jun 27, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Dugout canoe on Lake LaBarge near Whitehorse, Yukon awaits their “invite”
Ann Smith and Clarissa Rizal will dress in their regalia to be a part of the welcoming ceremony of the canoe arrival to shore
Welcoming song for the canoe to come ashore – the ritual is symbolic of the visitors (in this case, the visitors are the council of First Nations’ annual meeting for a week from all across Canada this year held in Whitehorse) being welcomed ashore by the people of the Kwaanlin Dun Nation.
- Canoe goes ashore amongst the reeds and grasses to find a natural “port.”
Photograph of the long dock after the ceremony
A fine feathered friend’s life has ended in the powerfully, beautiful landscape of Lake LaBarge
Jun 26, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Ravens & Eagles, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
“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!
