My last blog post introduced you to basket making of the Arrow Lakes or Sinixt people. I want to take you from the coiled baskets made of cedar root and the folded cedar bark baskets to tule baskets and mats. Tule is the tall, hollow stem of the cattail which was not only a prized…
Basket making was not only a piece of art for the Sinixt or Arrow Lakes People of Northeast Washington State, but more importantly a way of life. One of Survival. In my Young Adult book, Change of Heart, I wanted numerous facets of the traditional Arrow Lakes way of life. Basketry was a pledge. I…
Last week I shared with you about the First Root Ceremony. Today I want to share with you about the First Salmon Ceremony of the Sinixt or Arrow Lakes People of Northeast Washington State. Salmon was the main staple of the Lakes people. At the end of May or beginning of June, spring or Chinook…
Welcome back! I want to share with you about the First Root Ceremony of the Sinixt or Lakes People of Northeast Washington State. When I was editing for my up-and-coming book Heart of Passion, my editor wanted more cultural pieces woven in the tapestry of my story like the colorful hues the Native women entwine…
I must confess I am a non-native living on an Indian Reservation; to be exact, the Colville Confederated Reservation in Northeast Washington State. We have been here for two and one-half decades. I followed my husband to the home of his father’s family after we completed collage at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA. My…
Spupaleena nodded walking briskly to her stallion. The fringe on her dress swung back and forth as if being shook by a badger. She said a quick prayer for everyone as she went. She looked up to see Hahoolawho standing in her path. God help me, she prayed. Spupaleena will do nearly anything to make…
I’ve been invited to participate in the Next Big Thing blog series, in which authors get to describe what they are working on right now. I was invited to participate Donis Casey, who posted her own Next Big Thing last week at http://www.doniscasey.com. Then at the end of this blog, I’m tagging other writers who…
Research is inevitable when writing a book whether its fiction or nonfiction. It was only after working with elder Marguerite Ensminger for three years did I decide to write Change of Heart for my sons. Later I followed up with Heart of Courage. Not only did she teach me the difficult guttural sounds of the…
End of content
End of content
