I want to begin by saying thank you. Thank you to the Chilkoot Indian Association for this opportunity; thank you to Marsha Hotch for joining hands with my sister and me and instilling so much into us; thank you to my family. As I have started this journey, I have pictured my many cousins, my dad and mom, my grandma, and my great-grandma. I have pictured the many people in this Chilkat Valley that continue to hold each other up. I have pictured the weavers of the past and the weavers of the present. Thank you.
I am not new to the arts. My degree was in Fine Arts and I love working with colors and lines, both in paint and in metal. I feel so honored to be able to learn the art of Chilkat weaving, it’s so much more than colors, lines, and movement. It’s stories, heritage, deeds, love woven straight into the wool of the mountain goat. I know I still have much to learn.
Although, I am not new to art, I am new to weaving and in this past month and a half a whole new way of looking and observing has opened to me. My fingers are clumsy as they move through the weft and warp. Sometimes I feel like I won’t get it right, but I know that when we push through and continue to press-on, we learn. And so I gladly pick-up the weft and warp with a thankful heart and continue. I know someday my fingers will move not so clumsily, but with ease. I am looking forward to that day, but for today I want to hear and receive the lessons to be learned.
We have been studying blankets online and in books. Marsha has also brought in some of her beautiful weavings to show us and tell us their stories. I have started a small weaving to get my fingers and mind accustomed to this new-to-me artform. There’s a lot to say about that. I will write about the process in another post.
The season has moved into spring and I am glad to begin my journey while the eulachon begin their path to the Chilkoot and Chilkat Rivers here. The dance of spring is beginning to unfold, may I have the eyes to see and the ears to hear what is being said.
So, I’ll end with thank you. Not just any thank you, but Gunalcheesh! I am thankful.