YEIL KOOWÚ • QWĒGAL GIA’T • RAVEN’S TAIL WEAVING

Haida Tattoo Robe

by Kay Field Parker and Vicki Soboleff (Haida), 1995
Gift of the King Family Trust. ASM 2015-24-1

The design field of this robe is a series of “tattoo” patterns on a grid. This pattern—appearing as a capital letter “H” laying sideways, is used extensively in Tlingit spruce root basketry. When used in basketry, the pattern is called kaa jikóol kajóolani (back of an old person’s hand tattoo), derived from an actual tattoo pattern. Kay Field Parker was among the weavers who, in the early 1990s, learned the raven’s tail technique and began producing new regalia for ceremonial use. She studied extensively with master weaver Cheryl Samuel, and later became a weaving instructor in her own right, teaching throughout Alaska and in the Tlingit villages of Yakutat, Klukwan, and Hoonah, as well as through the University of Alaska Southeast. She served for many years as president of the Raven’s Tail Weavers’ Guild, is a Rasmuson Foundation Fellow, and the recipient of a 2013 solo artist exhibit at the Alaska State Museum.

Midwinter Robe

by Cheryl Samuel and Evan Adams (Coast Salish), 1986
Loan Courtesy Egan Library, University of Alaska Southeast—Juneau. LC.492

This innovative modern robe is the first to be woven in the geometric “raven’s tail” style with a new design and color scheme. Too, Samuel made technical modifications allowing it to be woven on a modern loom. While some of the individual design elements are based on traditional motifs, the colors depart from the traditional, reflecting those seen on northwest coast beaches in winter.