This week, there are approximately a dozen Chilkat weaver in Juneau. They meet at Generations Southeast Community Learn Center to weave for five hours each day. Their goal is to create intricate, child-sized robes that can be worn by local children as they perform a ceremonial dance.
Lily Hope’s apprentices are the weavers. She offered online classes during the pandemic so that students from other parts of Southeast Alaska could benefit.
They are now meeting in person to finish their projects. While the robes for children are more detailed and take longer to make than a robe for adults, they require less time than an adult-sized one.
Hope is committed to increasing the number of Chilkat weavers.
span style=”font weight: 400 In the past 120 years, there have been fewer than a dozen Chilkat blanket and robe makers at any one time. She stated that we are changing this story this week on Juneau Afternoon.
Sakoon Donedin is visiting Canada from Alberta. Hope taught her how to spin the yarn and hang it on the loom. Then she began weaving. Unfortunately, her blanket and everything else in her camper van were damaged in an accident while she was on a road trip.
Jackson stated that a community member gave her auntie’s yarns to Jackson. This was the only reason Jackson was able participate. Jackson explained that all the yarns in the blanket (except for the yellow and mask colors) are donated by the group. It is a project that has been supported by the entire community span>
Jackson left the wreck with a severe head injury but was able restart her robe and hopes to be back in time for Wednesday’s dance.
span style=”font weight: 400 It’s not like joining an crochet group, right? Jackson stated that it’s more than just joining a crochet group. Jackson said, “There is culture and then there is the spiritual side of it.” It’s what transforms it from an art form to a living being.
Hope’s mother Clarissa Rizal designed the design. This was her last child-sized robe. Jackson stated that it doesn’t have any clan affiliations. Jackson stated that they wanted to make the design “open-source” so that any child could be able to dance in them.
Gunaa Shaa Karen Taug began weaving in 1984. However, she stopped after five children. Rizal taught her again over a decade ago. She said that the Juneau child robe is her first large weaving project.
span style=”font weight: 400 When you get stuck, such as on a circle there are so many people to ask.” Taug stated. Although Lily is responsible for the videos, it’s still nice to get to know all the ladies. You learn little tricks of trade such as this here, that’s an magnet,” she explained, pointing at a magnet holding her needle to a loom.
She said that her grandson will be able to dance in the robe which features the faces of a fisherman with his two grandchildren.
span style=”font weight: 400 ;”>” My goal is to let the world that Chilkat robes continue weaving our history. We’re still telling our stories. Hope stated that we are still here, healthy, and alive.
Wednesday’s First Dance will see a group of children dance in these robes. It will be streamed live on Sealaska Heritage Institute’s YouTube page. The robes will be on display at the Juneau Douglas City Museum on Friday.
