Bear Grass Braiding Workshops -- Co-sponsored by the Me'Dil Institute
The Native Women's Collective in partnership with the Me'Dil Institute held a Bear Grass Braiding Workshop that brought women together to learn to weave bear grass. This tradition has been passed on through many generations and is continuing thanks to the hard work and dedication of community members. New workshops are being planned for Fall/Winter 2014-2015. Please check back for announcements.
"I think it’s important to foster a relationship with the land in a direct way, and I think that’s part of what this group does by teaching about gathering and treating the bear grass."
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"This workshop really helped me, being a graduate student, it helps me de-stress and feel “sane” again, even if it is only for 2 hours on a Sunday! It is important to be around people that support each other and there is a positive and accomplished feeling when we finish a day of bear grass braiding. It is also important to keep cultural events and workshops in your schedule, to keep yourself balanced."
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Yurok Language Basket Class (Trinidad Rancheria)
Written by Rachel Sundberg
Baskets play a vital role in the local traditional community’s way of life including ceremony, food gathering and preparation, health practices and natural resource management. Women learning and continuing to uphold this ancient way of life is of fundamental importance in the continuance of culture. The Yurok Language Basket Weaving Class is designed to provide a forum for sharing this important women’s tradition shared by the Yurok, Hupa, Karuk, Tolowa and Wiyot people.
The class is designed as a series of six week sessions. Each six week session includes field trips to gather materials, basic language instruction and basic skills in weaving. The class is open to all interested members of the community whether Tribal Members at the Rancheria, members of other federally recognized and non-recognized Tribes or non-Indians alike.
With generous support from the Humboldt Area Foundation’s Native Cultures Fund, Center for Indian Community Development (CICD) and the Native Women’s Collective the Rancheria offered two six week sessions of the class in the spring of 2011. We had a maximum enrollment of 20 per session and we received 40 applications. Because of the immense interest we chose to break the class into two, once a week sessions in order to accommodate all of the applicants.
We were also able to add a concurrent men’s session to the class thanks to the generosity of David Gensaw who volunteered his time to mentor the small group of men who applied. Over the course of two six week sessions, each of the participants completed at least one project;
with some completing several (see attached CD of photos). Our local indigenous people are world renowned for their fine basket work. And making basket has always been a community activity, whether it be gathering, peeling sticks, or trading materials. As our great-grandmothers once taught our grandmothers to weave, speaking our own language, we aim to reconnect that knowledge and provide a space to come together, with a good heart, as a community of women.
The Trinidad Rancheria wishes to thank Kathleen Vigil; Kateri Masten and David Gensaw as well as the Native Cultures Fund, CICD and the Native Women’s Collective for their support and expertise. You have made our goal a reality.
Wok-‘hlew, Wok-‘hlew, Wok-‘hlew!
Baskets play a vital role in the local traditional community’s way of life including ceremony, food gathering and preparation, health practices and natural resource management. Women learning and continuing to uphold this ancient way of life is of fundamental importance in the continuance of culture. The Yurok Language Basket Weaving Class is designed to provide a forum for sharing this important women’s tradition shared by the Yurok, Hupa, Karuk, Tolowa and Wiyot people.
The class is designed as a series of six week sessions. Each six week session includes field trips to gather materials, basic language instruction and basic skills in weaving. The class is open to all interested members of the community whether Tribal Members at the Rancheria, members of other federally recognized and non-recognized Tribes or non-Indians alike.
With generous support from the Humboldt Area Foundation’s Native Cultures Fund, Center for Indian Community Development (CICD) and the Native Women’s Collective the Rancheria offered two six week sessions of the class in the spring of 2011. We had a maximum enrollment of 20 per session and we received 40 applications. Because of the immense interest we chose to break the class into two, once a week sessions in order to accommodate all of the applicants.
We were also able to add a concurrent men’s session to the class thanks to the generosity of David Gensaw who volunteered his time to mentor the small group of men who applied. Over the course of two six week sessions, each of the participants completed at least one project;
with some completing several (see attached CD of photos). Our local indigenous people are world renowned for their fine basket work. And making basket has always been a community activity, whether it be gathering, peeling sticks, or trading materials. As our great-grandmothers once taught our grandmothers to weave, speaking our own language, we aim to reconnect that knowledge and provide a space to come together, with a good heart, as a community of women.
The Trinidad Rancheria wishes to thank Kathleen Vigil; Kateri Masten and David Gensaw as well as the Native Cultures Fund, CICD and the Native Women’s Collective for their support and expertise. You have made our goal a reality.
Wok-‘hlew, Wok-‘hlew, Wok-‘hlew!
Bear Grass Picking (w/ The Me'Dil Institute)
The Native Women's Collective, along with the Me'Dil (Maintaining, Enhancing and Defending Indigenous Living) Institute participated in a bear grass picking day. The traditional gathering of bear grass is an important tradition to native people's of California. Bear grass is used for all types of projects and is an easily collectible and storable material. Materials gathered during this outing will be used during a bear grass workshop sponsored by the NWC. Date: November 1, 2009 at the Me'Dil Institute. Visit our Calendar for more information.
