Join us for an evening with Sts’aStelQuyd (Al Johnnie), hosted by the Coast Salish Weaving class at ECU, taught by Chief Dr. Janice George and Skwetsimeltxw Willard “Buddy” Joseph.
The course approaches Coast Salish weaving as more than technique, as a practice grounded in cultural knowledge, relationship, care and responsibility.
Sts’aStelQuyd (Al Johnnie) is a Xwlemi (Lummi) weaver and lifelong learner whose practice is grounded in the teachings of his ancestors, Elders, family which are called Oks’ale (teachers). For Al, weaving is part of a much larger relationship between language, land, natural materials, cultural teachings and community.
Central to his practice is the responsibility that comes with knowledge: to learn with care, share with kindness, and carry teachings forward for children, grandchildren and future generations. At 69 years of age, Al describes himself simply and meaningfully as “still learning.”