Susan "Tweet" Burdick

Susan, also known as “Tweet” practices a variety of cultural arts that have defined her Native peoples since the beginning of time. She is a basket weaver, gatherer and a regalia maker and has taught basket weaving and gathering for over twenty years. A founding member of the California Indian Basket Weavers Association, Susan has devoted her life to the good of the people and to the continuity of their unique tribal culture, which is based on keeping the work in balance for all living things.

“My elders taught me to love, respect and nurture a healthy relationship with our precious homelands. They gifted me a true passion of sharing my knowledge with others. My deep commitment to basket making is woven together with my people’s cultural understanding and spiritual belief system. Weaving empowers the weaver through spiritual and cultural discovery and belonging to a community of people.” – Susan “Tweet” Burdick

“Susan is a dynamic advocate and cultural mentor in the local Native community. She is passionate about the health of the environment as well as sustaining cultural arts. She truly feels rich in culture and is fulfilled knowing she is doing her part in continuing the traditional arts of our people. Her energy, happiness and personal fulfillment is awesome to be around and motivates me to be more like her.” – Maggie Lee Peters, Nominator