Basketry Regeneration

As part of the creative research, our Basket Regeneration Project involves a key piece of our Tŝilhqot’in material culture, re-learning the art of the Qatŝ’ay, Tsilhqot'in traditional spruce root baskets. These baskets are now prized by collectors and museologists around the world, yet in our communities they were commonplace, functional items, their astounding craft and artistry a part of the everyday living of our culture. Over the last century, our people simplified to only our circular baskets for the tourist trade.

Basketry Team

Our project, led by Linda Smith, brings together weavers, Gloria Charleyboy, Lennie Billy, Irene Toby and Leslie Hunlin, from across our Nation and a collaboration with renowned Suquamish elder and master basketmaker Ed Carriere. Our weavers have the skills and capacity to explore the craft of our traditional rectangular Qatŝ’ay baskets. Our hands are nimble and we can tackle new forms just as we continue the ones passed down to us.