Delores Churchill weaves traditional Haida baskets in the ways she learned from her mother and grandmother.  Following in the footsteps of her mother, Delores' teachings have spawned a whole community of weavers in Southeast Alaska.  Tlinget and Tsimshian weavers share their intellectual knowledge of weaving with Delores.  She now spends much of her time passing on the traditional weaving techniques to emerging weavers, and researching historical southeast Alaskan baskets and Chilkat style weavings.

Delores spearheaded the "Hands Across the Robes" Raven's Tail Robe project.  She designed a traditional-style robe that was sent to communities throughout Southeast Alaska so weavers from throughout the region could contribute their own designs.  The Raven's Tail Robe can be viewed at the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan.

Currently Ms. Churchill is helping the community of Klukwan replicate a 500 year-old spruce root hat that was found frozen in a glacier on the Yukon-Alaska boarder.  She is also planning to begin work on the first Haida basketry book. 

"Delores has given her children, grandchildren, students and community residents of Southeast Alaska a love for her Native culture, language and art which has spread to many places outside of Alaska and multiplied her effectiveness at least five-fold."....Nathan Jackson, nominator

   Photo Credit:  Trish Reynolds

Pat Courtney Gold is a fiber artist known for her twined Wasco basketry.  She uses cattail leaves, tule, dogbane fiber, cedar bark and tree roots for her traditional baskets, and cotton, chenille, dyed wool, and other textured materials for her contemporary baskets.

Ms. Courtney Gold is known for being one of four people who helped revive the Wasco art of full-turn twine with its geometric images and motifs.  Today she is the only tribal member who carries on the legacy.  She has conducted extensive research (at museums and through visiting with elders) on the use of traditional plants in basketry and design.  Today very few elders carry the knowledge of plant fibers used by their ancestors, thus making it important for Ms. Courtney Gold to share her knowledge with other Plateau weavers and Native basketweaver associations.  The Northwest Native American Basketweaver Association (of which she is a founding member) has recognized her as a "Siam" (honored weaver) for sharing her twining methods and research.

Ms. Courtney Gold teaches classes throughout the Northwest, nationally and on the Warm Springs Reservation where she is from.  She teaches her students the importance of becoming stewards of the land by taking them on field trips to identify and protect wetland plants and their habitats, and teaches them how to properly harvest and process the palnts.  Her goal is to preserve and promote traditional basketry throughout the Plateau communities, and to pass the basketry skills to the next generation.

“Pat creates hope for the tribal youth.  Through each recognition she receives, it strengthens their desire for duplicating her successes as an artist and as a modern successful Warm Springs Indian."....Trudy Brunoe, nominator

Milford Nahohai is a natural clay artist who uses the traditional knowledge of Zuni pottery-making that was taught to him by his mother, who in turn learned from her mother, La Wa Tsa.  Making the connection between two - the old world ("the ancient masters of whom he is a descendent"_ and passing on new techniques - is most rewarding and intriguing for Mr. Nahohai.  It is important for him to ensure that the knowledge is passed on to the younger generations, as are the family designs. 

Art is at the center of Zuni life and is used for ceremonial and functional purposes.  Mr. Nohohai's large terraced bowls are used in ceremony by members of the medicine societies and religious fraternities.  His stew bowls are used to take food to the kiva at various times during the year.  Mr. Nohohai finds joys in seeing the women of his community using his family's bowls during ceremony as well as, seeing his work displayed in national museums for the world to view and appreciate.

“As an artist striving toward excellence, Milford serves as a powerful inspiration to future generations of not only Zuni, but of all artists.  Milford has dedicated his work to reconnecting with the art and knowledge of his Zuni ancestors.  He has long demonstrated a deep interest in re-discovering and re-introducing into the Zuni community lost pottery, techniques, styles and designs."....Tom R. Kennedy, nominator