Cultural Resources

Material collection and preparation big part of basket weaving

Quileute Cathy working on basket post
If you aren’t in the mood, don’t weave. It shows up in the work.” That’s one of the many things Quileute tribal member Cathy Salazar has learned after 16 years of basket weaving.

“The weave will get too tight or sloppy if you aren’t in the right frame of mind,” said Salazar.

Despite years of weaving, Salazar didn’t fully appreciate the traditional ways of preparing materials for some time because others provided the cedar and grasses ready to use in baskets. “It was all ready to go and Grandma Lillian Pullen or my other instructors would weave the basket bottoms for me to get the basket started,” said Salazar. Lillian was her first teacher and everyone called her “grandma.” (more…)

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Makah Students Help Survey Culturally Important Purple Olive Shells on Makah Beaches

Evan Bowechop and Michael Murner count olive shells on Hobuck Beach as part of a survey.
NEAH BAY- The chattering sound of hundreds of decorative purple olive shells has accompanied Makah tribal dancers for at least 500 years. The three-quarter-inch shells have been found in the oldest archeological digs in Neah Bay. Holes pierced in the end indicate they were used for necklaces, headbands, belts and other decoration. (more…)

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