Teri
Rofkar, whose Tlingit name is Chas' Koowu Tla'a, was born into the
Raven Clan. As a young child, she was exposed to traditional methods
of weaving by her grandmother. While too busy and impatient at the
time to sit down and weave, these experiences later inspired her
to seek out elders in her community to learn these techniques. Today,
she often refers to herself as a "basket case because
she weaves all the time, apart from when she is in the forest harvesting
materials. She is known world-wide as a teacher and researcher and
as a weaver of the once-lost art form of the Raven's Tail Robe.
She says, "I am following the steps of ancestors, striving
to recapture the woven arts of an indigenous people. The ancient
ways of gathering spruce root, with respect for the tree's life
and spirit, are a rich lesson in today's world. Traditional methods
of gathering and weaving natural materials help me link past, present,
and future. Links with a time when things were slower paced, a time
when even a childs berry basket was decorated with care. It
is through sharing and exploring that this old art form shall take
on new life." In 2003, she came to the National Museum of the
American Indian to study and analyze cultural material used in basketry
and robes. Ever willing to apply 21st century tools, she recently
has been exploring Web technology to verify the age and authenticity
of weavings.
National
Heritage Fellowships begin with nominations from ordinary
citizens who put forward local folk and traditional artists
that they feel are deserving of national recognition and who
embody artistic excellence, authenticity, and significance
within their tradition. Each year, a select group of these
artists come to Washington to receive their award in a public
ceremony and perform in a concert celebrating our nation of
nations during late September. Nomination information is available
on the website.
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Welcome
to the home page of Alaskan Native artist Teri Rofkar
My Tlingit lineage links me with my Alaskan Native ancestors
who have been weaving baskets and ceremonial regalia on this
coast for thousands of years. Some of the trees I visit are
several hundreds of years old; they have known my family for
many generations. The "Tree People" have helped me
in my journey as a weaver. In the Tlingit culture we recognize
that not only people, but animals, plants, objects and places
all have spirits
http://www.terirofkar.com/ |
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