[CENTER CASE]
Weaver, Snohomish
kʷasdalićə (Lushootseed)
“Mountain goat wool blanket”
Mountain goat wool, fabric strips
3, Gift of Washington World's Fair Commission
[TRIANGULAR PLATFORM ON RIGHT]
What is a tumpline?
Tumplines are straps used to help carry heavy loads.
These sturdy weavings are first attached to a basket or other item for carrying.
Then they are worn across either the head or chest—depending on the activity and weight.
While the materials and weaving techniques make tumplines incredibly strong, the patterns woven within them make them beautiful, too.
- teeweewas Tillie Jones, Tulalip
təq́ʷalšəd (Lushootseed)
“Tumpline”
Mountain goat wool, stinging nettle
2025
On loan from teeweewas Tillie Jones
- Weaver, Salish
təq́ʷalšəd (Lushootseed)
“Tumpline”
Wool, string
Ca. 1966
2010-168/5, Gift of Helen and Max Gurvich
- Weaver, Snoqualmie
təq́ʷalšəd (Lushootseed)
“Tumpline”
Wool
1930
1-1388, Gift of Dr. Erna Gunther
Weaver, Klallam
Clam basket with cə́ŋaʔtən (Klallam Language)
“Clam basket with tumpline”
Wool, cedar root
1-2153, Gift of Seattle Campfire Girls
Above
Floating tumplines
Back row, left to right
SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle, Muckleshoot
təq́ʷalšəd (Lushootseed)
Tumpline
Sheep wool, cotton, sinew
2024
On loan from SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle
təq́ʷalšəd (Lushootseed)
Tumpline
Sheep wool, cotton
2013
On loan from SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle
Front row, left to right
subiyay Bruce Miller, Skokomish
q́aɫi (Skokomish Language)
Tumpline
Wool, cotton
2001
On loan from sa’hLa mitSa Dr. Susan Pavel
q́aɫi (Skokomish Language)
Tumpline
Wool, cotton
2001
On loan from sa’hLa mitSa Dr. Susan Pavel
q́aɫi (Skokomish Language)
Tumpline
Wool, cotton
2001
On loan from sa’hLa mitSa Dr. Susan Pavel
[MOUNTAIN GOAT MURAL]
“The strength of the mountain goat is transferred from the Mountain Goat Being through the hunter, to the weaver, and into the robe.
Not everyone can hunt mountain goat because it takes spiritual strength as well as physical strength. It takes rigorous lifelong training to go where most human beings cannot.
As the Mountain Goat Being known as the Protector, the hunter also takes care of the people, as the weaver takes care of the people. Because of that, a mountain goat robe has always been one of the most highly-prized possessions.”
— Skwetsimeltx Willard “Buddy” Joseph, Squamisẖw Willard “Buddy” Joseph, Squamish
sah’La mitSa Dr. Susan Pavel gathering mountain goat wool, 2019.
Gathering the precious wool used to create the brand new weavings displayed in this exhibition took over ten years.
[COLUMN WALL LEFT OF MURAL]
skʷasəb ʔə sx̌ʷiƛaý (Lushootseed)
“Pelt of mountain goat”
On loan from Weńanūá Al Charles, teeweewas Tillie Jones
Weaver, Muckleshoot
Large clam basket with “birdcage” woven pattern
Cedar, wool
2019
On loan from Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle, Muckleshoot
with teacher Lindsey Hoptowit, Yakama
slagʷadᶻulč (Lushootseed)
“Cedar bark basket”
Large gathering basket with stinging nettle
Cedar bark, leather, red willow, sinew
2019
On loan from SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle
“I love doing it all. From picking berries, to gathering lichen, harvesting cedar bark or picking up alder cones that have fallen to continue their purpose. I love being outdoors and continuing the relationship with the land.”
— SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle, Muckleshoot
Photography Credits
David Dixon
Swan down
Gail Hampshire
Fireweed fluff
Tony Webster
Cattail fluff
Amiyashrivastava
Cottonwood fluff
stuʔq́ʷ (Lushootseed)
“Small feathers”
Swan down
On loan from sa’hLa mitSa Dr. Susan Pavel
tuĺ ti ʔulal (Lushootseed)
“This is from the cattail plant”
Cattail fluff
On loan from sa’hLa mitSa Dr. Susan Pavel
tuĺ ti q́ʷədiʔq́ʷac
(Lushootseed)
“This is from the cottonwood tree”
Cottonwood fluff
On loan from sa’hLa mitSa Dr. Susan Pavel
tuĺ ti cudadx̌i (Lushootseed)
“This is from the fireweed plant”
Fireweed fluff
On loan from sa’hLa mitSa Dr. Susan Pavel
[SQUARE PLATFORM WITH GREEN CORNER WALLS]
“I love to gather.
It’s my favorite time of the year. New growth springs from mother earths slumber; her time of rejuvenation. The time to reconnect to the land and rekindle relationships with our tree and plant relatives. Living our sovereign rights and honoring our ancestors.
I gather not only for weaving; it’s also time to gather for traditional medicines, edible plants and dye material. Harvesting enough to eat and to store away for future use during the winter months.
Our oral teachings are that you never come home empty-handed.”
— SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle, Muckleshoot
Counter-clockwise from left
SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle, Muckleshoot
syiq́ib ʔə slagʷac (Lushootseed)
“Basket of inner cedar bark”
Double-walled Basket
Red cedar bark and root, yellow cedar, traditional dyes, sinew
2015
___
Basket weaver, Muckleshoot
syalt (Lushootseed)
“Cedar root basket”
Cedar Root Berry Picking Basket
Cedar root, beargrass, cherry bark, leather
2015
Teresa Jerry, Muckleshoot
təq́ʷalšəd (Lushootseed)
“Tumpline”
Acrylic yarn, cotton cordage
2018
___
Basket weaver, Muckleshoot
təq́ʷalšəd ʔə slagʷac (Lushootseed)
“Tumpline of inner cedar bark”
Cedar Tumpline
Red cedar, yellow cedar, sinew
2013
___
slagʷac (Lushootseed)
“Inner cedar bark”
On loan from SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle
SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle, Muckleshoot
“I was inspired to make this set by going to the Chicago Field Museum and was able to see two different cedar skirts with mountain goat wool in them. From that point, my vision became clear.
Both yellow cedar and mountain goat used in the cape and skirt set come from high altitudes in the mountains.
The name for the creation is Mountain Protector. It represents who I am as an individual and how I protect what we have, because it’s medicine and sacred to our people. When gathering and sourcing the materials, it’s important to practice responsible harvesting.
We must take it seriously and consider what will be left for the generations after us.
How are we stewarding our mountains—it’s not just about going out and practicing our Sovereignty— but also to protect what we have and to nurture & grow the land for our generations after.”
New weavings inspired by cedar skirts at Field Museum pictured right and below.
SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle, Muckleshoot
stix̌dxʷʔə skʷatač (bəqəlšuɫucid / Muckleshoot Language)
Mountain Protector
Hat, Cape, and Skirt
Mountain goat wool, sheep wool, yellow cedar bark, red cedar, sinew
2025
Tyson Simmons, Muckleshoot
stitkʷabus (Lushootseed)
“Mask used at dances”
Alder, yellow cedar, abalone, human hair, mountain goat wool, elk antlers, elk whistler teeth
2025
[CASE ALONG MAP MURAL]
The world has changed so much, but we still have to keep those foundational teachings.
If we lose why we’re weaving, if we lose the meaning of it, if we lose the techniques of it, then we are losing the foundation of what our people have always been. Our people have always gone by those teachings. The teachings that have brought us from almost being wiped out to today.
Squamish nation went down to 200 people and there are those few people that came through the keyhole, carrying what they had to give to us. And everything we have today is because of those few people. The strength in that is incredible. The strength of Squamish women that went through hard times and carried a big load through all of that.
Look at what we have today. Look at Sen̓áḵw.
Look at what our ancestors have left us.
We have to carry that now.
- Chepximiya Siyam Chief Dr. Janice George, Squamish
Shores of Kitsilano Indian Reserve in Vancouver B.C., 1935.
Sen̓áḵw Development as of February 2024, Vancouver B.C.
The Coast Salish worldview is unique to this area.
We enjoy a complete relationship with the land and our first teachers: the plant and animal people.
We are all intimately linked and woven together.
1. Skwetsimeltx̱w Willard “Buddy” Joseph, Squamish
Chiefly Tunic
2025
2. Che top ie Frances James & Tsi’li’xw Bill James, Lummi
Woven Robe
2012
3. Weńanūá Al Charles Jr., Lower Elwha Klallam, Lummi
špac / Loom Comb
2025
4. teeweewas Tillie Jones, Tulalip
x̌ʷaqʷabacəd / Ceremonial Belt
2025
5. Haʔməkʷitən Kelly Sullivan, Port Gamble S’Klallam
Many Hands Overspun Shawl
2025
6. Qw3’May Usia Tahnee Hawk Miller, Skokomish
puĺ qʷəd / Hood
2025
7. SiSeeNaxAlt Gail White Eagle, Muckleshoot
stix̌dxʷ ʔə skʷatač / Mountain Protector
2025
Every Coast Salish community has weavers. These diamonds represent approximate locations where the weavings, tools, and belongings in this exhibition originate.
Coast Salish peoples come from many First Nations and Tribes spanning an area from southwestern British Columbia to northern Oregon.
They are all linked through a shared family of languages.
Weaver, Seńáḵw
Chemcheḿáýeḵw (Squamish Language)
Tumpline
Wool, plant fiber
2015
AMNH 16/4671
“I can say this standing on firm ground: this tumpline is different from every other single tumpline that you are going to look at.
It’s got these five braids that go down, so meticulously done. It must have took her hours and hours just to bring them together at the end. The fineness of the wool and the meticulous work she did bringing it together is incredible. It’s like a little woven jewel.
It’s just so beautiful.”
— Chepximiya Siyam Chief Dr. Janice George, Squamish
(Image Caption) A close-up look into the combination of weaving and braiding techniques
