Page 7 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - May 2025

7
More than 500 weavers gather

Eager participants create
beautiful handmade art
during Hazel Pete event

By Bobbie Bush

There was a buzz of excitement
in the air on May 9 as hundreds of
weavers met at Great Wolf Lodge in
Grand Mound to attend the Hazel
Pete Basketry Institute spring event.
Weavers Teaching Weavers was
packed and ran from 9 a.m. until
after dinner on Friday and 9 a.m.-
4 p.m. Saturday, May 10.
An impressive 37 teachers each
had a table with projects to create.
Prices for kits started at $25 and
went all the way up to $550.
Vendors offered various goods
and supplies. Youth were set up
with activities in the adjoining room
where they could paint rawhide
rattles, create pony bead key chains,
weave cat tail mats, try leather work
and work on cedar weaving projects.
People arrived throughout the
day on Friday. Many baskets were
started and completed. As each
participant finished a project, the
session teacher would proudly
announce the weaver’s name, nation
and what was created (cedar hat,
conch belt, basket, etc.).
After a day of weaving, the main
body of participants/students moved
to the Chehalis Tribe’s Community
Center Gathering Room for dinner.
I heard the dinner was delicious.
Saturday was exciting, too. Many
weavers who had children in school
or participating in sports games were
able to join in the festivities!
It was great to see more than 500
people engaged with culture through
weaving. Talented teachers help students complete projects at Weavers Teaching Weavers from May 9-10.