06/ 01, 2008	Contact:	Patricia Cosgrove, Museum Director
For Immediate Release		(253) 288-7437

Auburn’s Historical Museum Honors the Weaver’s Spirit Power

Auburn, Wash. – The White River Valley Museum celebrates the traditions of the Northwest Coast Salish People with the exhibit “SQ3Tsya’yay: Weaver’s Spirit Power” that opens Aug. 20 and runs until Nov. 9, courtesy of guest curator and master weaver Susan (sa’hLa mitSa) Pavel.

The celebration starts early with two weaving workshops taught by Pavel.

Yarn Dyeing with Native Plants, Aug. 9, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Participants will collect plants native to the Northwest Coast region and process them into dyes for dyeing yarn and wool. Cost is $155. Pre-registration is required. Call 253-288-7433.

Coast Salish Weaving, Aug. 16 and 17, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Plant-dyed yarns will be used to weave on a Coast Salish table-top loom. Dyed yarn from the “Yarn Dyeing with Native Plants” workshop can be used in this workshop. Participants will complete a 12” x 14” wall hanging. Select weavings from this workshop will be displayed in the exhibit “SQ3Tsya’yay: Weaver’s Spirit Power.” Cost is $175 for both days. Pre-registration is required. Call 253-288-7433.

ABOUT “SQ3Tsya’yay: WEAVER’S SPIRIT POWER”
Pronounced cutse-ya-ya, SQ3Tsya’yay means weaver’s spirit power. The exhibit exclusively features historical and contemporary Coast Salish fiber weavings.

Indigenous Northwest Coast art has historically been dominated by art forms represented by Southeast Alaska and Northwestern Canada. “Weaver’s Spirit Power” has strong roots in the Pacific Northwest and focuses on the Southern Coastal region, specifically southern Vancouver, B.C. south into Western Washington.

For over 40 years, the state of Washington had only three master Coast Salish fiber weavers: The late Bruce (subiyay) Miller from the Skokomish Nation, Fran James from the Lummi Nation and Bill James from the Lummi Nation. These masters occasionally took on an apprentice, leaving only a handful of active Coast Salish fiber weavers.

ABOUT SUSAN (sa’hLa mitSa) PAVEL
Pavel apprenticed with Miller for six years and has been teaching, demonstrating and presenting Coast Salish Weaving for the last seven . Her passion and commitment to reviving this weaving style are an inspiration for both Native and non-Native people interested in the ways of Coast Salish Weaving. To date, well over 400 people have taken weaving classes from Pavel.

To learn more about Coast Salish Weaving and Susan Pavel, visit www.coastsalishweaving.com.


ABOUT THE WHITE RIVER VALLEY MUSEUM
The White River Valley Museum is a partnership with the City of Auburn and combines history and culture to create an exciting and educational experience for visitors. Museum collections focus on local Puget Sound history, Northwest Indian culture, Japanese immigration and the Northern Pacific Railroad.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and is located at 918 H St. SE in Auburn. Regular hours are noon – 4 p.m. Admission is free on Wednesdays. Call 253-288-7433 for event information.