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Museum hosts cedar weaving workshop

The Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives is excited to welcome back shíshálh Nation weaver Jess Silvey for two cedar basket weaving workshops on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
cedar weaving
Jess Silvey will lead two cedar basket weaving workshops on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10 and 11.

The Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives is excited to welcome back shíshálh Nation weaver Jess Silvey for two cedar basket weaving workshops on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum has collaborated with Silvey since 2012 to offer a wide variety of cedar and wool weaving workshops using traditional Coast Salish techniques. During her workshops, she often speaks of her personal journey to learn ancient weaving techniques over the years despite the suppression of shíshálh culture that occurred though colonialism and the residential school system.

Silvey’s workshops are always full of insight and laughter and come highly recommended by museum curator Matthew Lovegrove: “Jess has a way of making participants feel at home during her workshops. By the end of the day, people are laughing together and sharing stories like they have known each other for years.”

Silvey’s woven creations can be found in numerous private collections worldwide and are now available in notable art galleries in the Lower Mainland.

During this summer’s workshops, participants will learn how to weave a 7” x 4” basket using red cedar bark, cattail, and raffia dyed with Coast Salish traditional food/medicine plants. They will be taught how to weave using the twine and checkerboard technique to create their own unique basket. No previous weaving experience is necessary, and all materials provided. Call the Museum to register; space is limited: 604-886-8232, sunshinecoastmuseum.ca

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