Willamette Valley Traditional Cultural Basket Weaving with Juncus

In this workshop, participants will learn about traditional lifeways, culture and traditional ecological knowledge. Participants will also see samples of traditional foods, medicine and utilitarian plants. There will be displays of family belongings that have been passed down through generations in the instructor’s family, as well as traditional tools. Participants must know weaving techniques, starts, rims, and have patience while weaving. Juncus is non-forgiving and will show mistakes. Participants will learn about the plant juncus including methods of harvesting, preparing and proper identification. Participants will also learn traditional weaving techniques, including different options for basket starts and rims. Participants will complete a woven juncus basket to take home by the end of the workshop.

Stephanie Craig is a 7th generation basket weaver, traditional ethnobotanist and cultural tradition bearer, enrolled in the Grand Ronde Tribe. She is Santiam and Yoncalla Kalapuya, Takelma Rogue River, Cow Creek Umpqua and Clackamas Chinook. She has a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology with an emphasis in Pacific Northwest Native American culture and a master’s degree in cultural anthropology/archaeology in Western Oregon Native American culture, cultural museum studies and folklore. She also used her tribal language Chinook Wawa as her college foreign language requirement. She comes from a master basket weaving family, including Martha Jane Sands and Hattie Sands Hudson of the Grand Ronde Tribe. She carries on the traditions of her family and her Tribe.

A sharp knife

Awl- or packing tool (weave rite tools are great)

Clips or clothes pins

Squirt bottle

Towel or apron

Juncus

Tools - knives, awl, weave rite tools

Clips

Squirt bottles

Tapestry needles

String

Embelishments