Susan Pavel has come to deeply respect and value her husband’s Twana culture and tradition. She apprenticed under master Salish weaver and Skokomish Tribal member subiyay Bruce Miller for six years. Traditionally, Salish blankets and clothing are woven using a variety of animal and plant fibers including: mountain goat wool, canine hair, hemp, fireweed, milkweed, cattail, cotton grass and yellow and red cedar bark. Various plants are used to create the colors used in dying the wool. Bark from Oregon grape, stinging nettles, various lichens and alder bark are some of these plants.Coast Salish people regard woven blankets as a symbol of great wealth and status. During ceremonial occasions, objects of wealth are given as gifts, indicating the donor’s honor and prestige.

Address
640 N. Reservation Road
Skokomish Nation, WA 98584

Photo by Denny Hurtado

“I have been greatly blessed with the opportunity to have learned Coast Salish weaving in the traditional way.”