Similkameen-sylix weaving:

This video features Wendy Hawkes with her niece Sarain Squakin gathering cattail and bulrush at nʔaʕx̌ʷt – Ginty’s Pond for basket weaving. This video is from a webinar put together by the UBC Learning Circle, in the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health. 

Wendy shares history, knowledge, and important messages about harvesting practices: “these places are the places that clean our water, and without water, none of us can live… we have to take care of these places, these wetlands..” 

Re-connecting people to the land and supporting indigenous use was an objective of the Ginty’s restoration project. 

Learn more about the UBC Learning Circle here: https://learningcircle.ubc.ca/

A standalone version of the film can be viewed below

About the Presenter

Wendy Hawkes

Wendy is similkameen-syilx and a grandmother of 6. Originally introduced to traditional tulè weaving by her great aunt 40 years ago, Wendy continues to research, practice and teach weaving.

Wendy says, “Weaving is so much more than a craft. It is science, engineering, biology and ethnobotany.

Weaving connects the past, present and future, It deepens my connection to the land and water and calms my soul”.