Third Weavers and Gathering Grass
Berlin Ethnological Museum (Contributor)
Chugach Alaska Corporation (Contributor)
Chugach Heritage Foundation (Contributor)
Dawn Randazzo (Contributor)
Deborah McMullen (Contributor)
Chugach Alaska Corporation (Contributor)
Chugach Heritage Foundation (Contributor)
Dawn Randazzo (Contributor)
Deborah McMullen (Contributor)
Dawn Randazzo describes the use of a third weaver that wraps around each stitch — not structural, but part of the weaving design. Deborah McMullen discusses gathering grass in late July, August, or early fall, describing the process of cutting grass, separating the layers, then binding and hanging them to dry until they turn a light tan color. She notes that grass left over from the previous year is also usable, as is green grass and grass found on the ground, though both can be challenging to work with. When Randazzo prompts her to discuss gathering spruce root, McMullen declines, explaining that while a class came to the community, gathering spruce root was too labor-intensive given her other obligations. She shares that she made her grass basket for an Alaska Native studies class and added a seal gut handle to finish it more quickly, noting that this would not have been a traditional method.
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