Betty Pacheco is a seventh-generation basket weaver. A member of the Chehalis Tribe, her family's story is engrained deep into the craft. But she hasn't stopped learning; in fact, she just learned how to make reindeer ornaments three weeks ago for the holiday season.
Pacheco and her aunt Yvonne Petersen attended The Evergreen State College's Holiday Native Art Fair on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9 and Dec. 10, selling handmade everything, from the aforementioned reindeer to unique "personality" baskets and dolls. They were among 45 native artist booths at the weekend event.
Petersen said her family has been basket weaving since the signing of the Chehalis River Treaty in 1855. It's been a family affair from the beginning, and nothing has changed. Pacheco said their family gathers almost every Sunday to practice their craft, including her 11-year-old son, who still isn't the youngest. Petersen has a great-granddaughter that makes the ninth generation of weavers.
Made out of cedar bark, sweet grass and more, it's an involved process that takes years of knowledge. They go out at a certain time in the summer to gather more than 15 types of plants. That's why Pacheco is making sure it gets passed down to her son. She started learning before she was old enough for grade school, and her other son was a master weaver by 13 and teaching his own class.
"Going out to gather, I've known that my whole life," Pacheco said. "My 11-year-old has to help gather because if it's something I don't teach them, it would end up dying. We have to teach them at a young age."
She said he reluctantly goes out with her every year to collect sweet grass, and she tells him one day he'll have a family of his own to pass the tradition down to.
Pacheco said weaving has always been a part of holidays for her family, especially Christmas. Growing up, her mom didn't have much money, so she turned to handmade gifts and a family meal. Pacheco loved receiving "personality" baskets from her mom, which are cedar baskets with a distinctive characteristic. Her thought is that it's something she can cherish for as long as she wants, then pass it down to her children, who might pass it down to theirs.
"At this point, my mom is 68 and has arthritis, and won't be making baskets anymore," she said. "For me to have one of hers for Christmas is amazing."
The family has been selling some of their weaved baskets, dolls and more for years. Pacheco's grandmother, Hazel Pete, was nationally known for her work and received the Washington State Governor's Heritage Award in 2001. Pacheco said she'll have people come up to her and say they still have one of Hazel's works from decades ago.
At the holiday art fair, Pacheco and Petersen had baskets, dolls, reindeer ornaments, cedar bells and more. They make great gifts, Pacheco said, and it supports the Indigenous people who made them.
"It continues on and on, and I'm grateful I have my family," Pacheco said.
Bobbie Bush, a Chehalis Tribe member, learned how to weave cedar baskets from family members, too. But her start came later, in a time of need.
Bush said she moved near family in Washington in 1989, after going into treatment for drug addiction the year prior. She said she found that as the world continued to change and hectic things happened, it stressed her out and shut her down. Things changed after she learned how to weave.
"As soon as I touch that cedar bark, everything's gone," Bush said. "All that anxiety, angst, worry, trepidation, all those things fell off. It helps me focus myself, to come to what's really crucial to me."
Bush said another thing that helped her get into weaving was she was interested in a man at the time and she wanted to impress him. He was in treatment for an illness and was in need of a medicine carrier. She started making small wearable baskets just for that, but it didn't lead to anything romantic.
She said you're not supposed to weave when you're stressed because your thoughts and emotions go into the work. She put down the cedar for a year during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the stress it caused her. She said she's come to recognize she needs it to keep her on track and positive, but it's a test of patience.
"I didn't work on them, that's when I recognized that when I touch my cedar bark and do what my cultural spirit tells me to do, it will take all the stress of the world off and instantly calm me down," she said.
She said now she cherishes the process of soaking the cedar bark, the year-long waiting period, her cat curling up next to her, watching shows like "Star Trek" and "Friends" to keep the vibes positive while she works the fibers.
She said art fairs like the one at Evergreen allow Indigenous artists to share their culture and knowledge with others.
"We can show our work, demonstrate our resiliency, and our capacity for adaptation in our tribal communities," Bush said. "It's a way to flex and say, 'Look what I can do.'"
