Newsletter #32 Fall 2000

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Memories from the California-Great Basin Indian Basketweavers Gathering

Sam Albers (Yurok) of Trinidad displayed this eel trap, his first basket, in the 2000 Basketweavers Showcase. Sam, age 8, gathered his own materials—spruce root and willow shoots— and the basket took him about a month to complete.

The California-Great Basin Indian Basketweavers Gathering, held June 23-25, 2000 in Reno, brought together basketweavers both young and old. Click here for more on this exciting event.

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From the Acting Executive Director

Soon the reds and yellows of Autumn will remind us
that fall is fast approaching and winter is not far behind. As Mother Earth prepares for a change in seasons, so also is CIBA preparing for changes. Foremost among them is the resignation of Sara Greensfelder from her position as CIBA’s executive director. At the July 29 meeting of CIBA’s Board of Directors, Sara expressed a desire to return from her sabbatical leave in a capacity other than the position she has held since helping to found CIBA in 1992. In recognition of a need to bolster our efforts and elevate the status of our Basketweaver Support Program, the Board decided to establish and appoint Sara, effective October 1, to a new position, Basketweaver Support Director.

Sara’s appointment was the logical outcome of her long years of efforts on behalf of basketweavers, beginning in the mid-1980s, when she first began research on California Indian basketweaving and subsequently conceived the idea of holding the first statewide California Indian basketweavers gathering, held in 1991. Prior to leaving on sabbatical, she was lead planner and organizer of CIBA’s greatest accomplishment to date, the 1999 Western Regional Indigenous Basketweavers Gathering. The Basketweaver Support Program is responsible not only for producing CIBA’s annual basketweavers gathering, but also for carrying out all other projects and activities that serve weavers in the practice and exhibition of their art.

It is in this latter realm that we will expand our efforts under Sara’s leadership, now that she is free of the burden of having also to run the whole organization. The Board, staff, and basketweavers both in California and elsewhere, all owe a big debt of thanks to Sara for her vision and leadership as executive director. While Sara has been on sabbatical, I have been acting executive director. The Board has appointed me to be interim executive director, effective October 1, until a permanent replacement for Sara can be found. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with Sara in her new capacity, as there is much more we can and need to do to support basketweavers.

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Before all the leaves fall, we expect to finally have filled our long-vacant Northwestern California Field Director position. The process of hiring a field director has taken much longer than expected, and many of our constituents in the area are getting impatient with the delay. However, by the time they read this, interviews will be complete and, hopefully soon thereafter, the Northwestern Field Office will have a director on board, busily making plans to fulfill the promise that this office represents to area weavers.

While serving as acting executive director this summer, it became apparent that I needed to devote full time to that job. Consequently, I advised the Board at its July meeting that it would be in CIBA’s best interest if someone new could be hired as Resource Protection Coordinator, a position that I still retained and one that I have held for 5 years. In August, we began a search for a replacement, and I am hopeful that we will be able to turn the job over to a new coordinator by November 1.

It is time also to say goodbye and thanks to retiring board member Lois Connor Castro, whose two-year term expired in September. Lois served capably on the Fund-raising/Marketing and Planning committees. She also has been a stalwart acorn cooking demonstrator at this and prior years’ basketweavers gatherings, and served as this year’s Raffle Coordinator.

Finally, a “transition” that will be most welcomed this fall—at least by staff—will be one that greatly expands CIBA’s employee benefits. We have finally reached a critical mass in terms of staffing and funding, where we both can afford, and can’t afford not, to provide essential benefits to our hardworking and dedicated employees.

CIBA Board Election Results

The results of CIBA's Board elections are in and we would like to welcome new Board members Athena (Tina) Johnston (Norelmuk Wintu) and Christi Gabaldon (Mishewal Wappo). Cassandra Hensher (Karuk) was elected following appointment to a Board vacancy last year. Kathy Wallace (Karuk/Yurok/member of Hoopa Tribe), who has been on CIBA's Board of Directors since its inception in 1992, was re-elected.

Kathy: "I believe in what CIBA is trying to accomplish. I feel I have skills that can be put to use on CIBa's behalf. It seems I am either weaving, gathering, or talking about basketweaving to groups or agencies almost every day. I feel I have more to accomplish before stepping down to retire from the Board."

Cassandra: "Basketweaving is important to me because it allows me to carry on one of the most significant aspects of my tribe's culture. I want to make any contributions I can to an effective organization that supports and fights for our rights to continue our traditions. I have a passion for basketry and for nature—both of which are at the heart of CIBA's goals."

Tina: "Basketweaving has brought me closer to the roots of my culture spiritually. With this, the rest of my family has also come closer to knowing who they are. I would like to lend a helping hand to a vital organization in the preservation of this knowledge."

Christi: "I feel it's my destiny as a Native person to learn to weave from my elders, and then teach it to others. This was the way of our past and I hope it's still the way of our future."

Basket Collection Donated to CIBA

In early June, a collection of California Indian baskets and other items was bequeathed to CIBA by member Barbara Elias Baker of San Francisco. The collection consists of approximately 50 late19th to early 20th Century baskets of Hat Creek, Hupa, Karuk, Klamath, Maidu, Miwok, Modoc, Mono, Pit River, Pomo, Washoe, Yokuts and Yurok origin. According to Mr. Herb Puffer of Pacific Western Traders, who appraised the collection, there is a 19th-Century Bay Miwok cooking basket that had aboriginal usage. There are also a rhythm belt and hat band made with old beads from Northern California and two pair of beaded hide baby booties that are probably of Paiute or Shoshone origin. This donation is the first of its kind for CIBA. A Board committee has been formed to develop policies and procedures for acceptance and use of this and future collections that may come into our hands.

Uses we are considering for the “Baker collection” include display and education. The estate executor said that Ms. Baker thought very highly of CIBA and the work we are doing, and that it was her wish that we keep the collection for these purposes. We plan to display some of the baskets in both of our offices once appropriate display cases are found. Visitors consistently drop in to the Nevada City office and ask, “where are the baskets?” They are disappointed when none are to be seen. We hope that before too long, as a result of Ms. Baker’s generosity, we will have a basket display that will enable the public to gain greater awareness of native basketry traditions.

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Forest Service Herbicide Projects Challenged

Several herbicide spray projects proposed by the
US Forest Service (FS) have been challenged by CIBA, resulting in delays or changes in final decisions. On the Tahoe NF, we joined with Forest Issues Group (FIG) and the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) of Nevada City to appeal the decision of the district ranger to implement the Cottonwood Fire herbicide project (see NL #30). That proposal, if implemented, would result in spraying herbicides (glyphosate and triclopyr) on 10,000-20,000 acres of forest lands to kill native shrubs and herbs allegedly competing with conifer trees. We believe that the FS has failed to demonstrate that use of herbicides is essential. Evidence suggests that conifer survival and growth is good, and may even be aided by the beneficial effects of the associated species that share their habitat. Unfortunately, our appeal was denied in early August by the FS regional office in San Francisco. Consequently, we have joined forces with FIG and with Californians for Alternatives to Toxics (CATS), another appellant, to put the FS on notice of our intention to file a lawsuit in federal court against the project. The project is on hold pending the outcome of the litigation process.

On the Modoc NF, the Long Damon Plantation Release project is another herbicide project designed to kill competing vegetation after a wildfire. The herbicide hexazinone would be applied in pelletized form from helicopters on more than 5,000 acres. Numerous culturally important plant species, such as chokecherry, Sierra plum, and sourberry, are at risk, as are wildlife species that occur in the numerous “lava reefs” and caves that exist throughout the area. In addition, some 87 different species of animals are dependent upon the sagebrush plant communities that occur throughout the area. We vigorously opposed the project in written comments to the FS.

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In response to our written comments, and concerns expressed locally by the Klamath Forest Alliance and the Salmon River Council, we have been advised that the Klamath NF will forego for the time being the use of herbicides to control spotted knapweed, an invasive non-native plant, in the Salmon River drainage of northern California. Instead, they will give the local community an opportunity to continue their very effective program to control the plant by hand-weeding. We also learned that, if they consider herbicide use in the future, the highly dangerous herbicide 2,4-D would not be considered for use on this project. There are still several uncertainties involved with this proposal, however, and we will continue to monitor the project in order to keep herbicides out of the Salmon River watershed.

With the end of summer upon us, the period for application of herbicides is fast drawing to a close. We are hopeful that the year will pass without the national forests being subjected to any new large-scale herbicide spraying. For further information about these and other herbicide projects around the state, contact Vivian Parker, Resource Policy Analyst, at 530/622-8718.

In Memory...Vivien Risling Hailstone
Yurok/Karuk/Member of Hoopa Tribe
October 16, 1913 - July 1, 1000

“I’m Vivien Hailstone. I’m a Yurok, Karuk and a member of the Hupa tribe. And I’ve been a teacher of basketry for more than 20 years. I see several of my students here. They are the teachers now. I started a line of jewelry, you know, chains, necklaces, chokers, and this type of thing, and its so good to see other people making it now...I mean, it's caught on. But I do want to applaud CIBA. This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for them. I remember when my mom used to make baskets—when somebody came, she hid it because it wasn’t a thing to do. “You don’t do those kind of things because you got to live like those people live.” And now we can do basketry with pride and it’s a great feeling. So CIBA has done a lot, but we’re just beginning. There’s a lot more to do.”
—Vivien Hailstone, CIBA Basketweavers Gathering, Opening Circle, June 23, 2000.

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After spending a busy and happy week-end with Vivien at the June basketweavers gathering in Reno, we were all shocked by the news of her death in Redding one week later. She was her usual vivacious self, enjoying the fellowship of so many basketweavers and other friends. We are grateful to have had this time with her before her unexpected departure from this life.

Vivien was born to Geneva Orcutt (Yurok/Karuk) and David Risling (Karuk/member of the Hoopa Tribe) in Morick, California. There, in her childhood, she lived without roads or stores, seeing a non-Indian for the first time only when she began school. While gathering basket materials, Vivien sometimes talked of her early fear of white people, and how she had learned to hide from them out of fear for her safety.

Later in her life, Vivien became an active and effective spokesperson for Indian people, serving on the Human Rights Commission in Eureka, College of the Redwoods Extension Board of Directors, Northern Indian California Education, California Indian Education Association, and Local Indians for Education, some of which she helped to found. In the 1970's she was the first Indian person to serve on the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Commission. During her tenure, Vivien helped promote a reburial policy for Indian remains and associated grave goods, a traditional materials gathering policy for Indians, and the elimination of Indian stereotypes from park displays. Thank you, Vivien, for these and your many other active efforts on behalf of Indian people. We will miss your liveliness and laughter. CIBA Seeks Resouce Program Coordinator
CIBA is seeking an experienced and dedicated re-source professional to become the coordinator of our Resource Protection Program. Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Resource Protection Coordinator will develop and direct projects and activities to achieve CIBA’s resource protection goals. These include: to protect the forests and other wildland environments that sustain our traditional plant and animal resources and our people; to promote sustainable resource management and restoration of public and private lands through the application of traditional ecological knowledge; and to preserve and expand access to and stewardship of gathering areas.

To meet these goals requires that we be actively involved with local, state and federal policy and decision makers. As readers of Roots & Shoots know, we review land and resource management plans, advocate for appropriate changes in policies and programs, and work at the grassroots level to support native communities. One of our major concerns, and an issue to which we devote a significant portion of program resources, is the use of herbicides by public and private land managers for reforestation and noxious weed control. To address this issue, we have drafted a Pesticide Strategic Plan. The Resource Protection Coordinator will be responsible for refining and implementing the plan, which is intended to meet our goal of ending pesticide use in the environment of California Indians.

If you or someone you know might be interested in applying for this position, a detailed vacancy announcement can be obtained by contacting CIBA headquarters (PO Box 2397, Nevada City, CA 95959, 530/478-5660; ciba@ciba.org).

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Tax Deduction Opportunities
As noted above, we have hopes of displaying baskets in our offices in the near future. However, a major impediment is our current lack of display cases. We have discovered that finding suitable display cases is no easy task. Our perusal of catalogues has left us gasping at the prohibitive cost of new cases, and the one lead we had on used cases did not pan out. We are appealing to anyone who may have, or knows of someone who may have, one or more exhibit quality display case(s) they would be willing to donate, or sell to CIBA at a discount. We could arrange for pick-up in northern California, if necessary. A cash donation in lieu of a case would also be welcome. If you can be of any assistance in these matters, we would welcome your call at the CIBA main office (530/478-5660).- back -

In addition, we have the usual need for some basic office amenities, such as:
Fax machine
Microwave oven (small)
Desk lamps
Vacuum cleaner
Portable fan (large)
Storage cabinets
Coat rack (wood)
Bookcase
Folding chairs
Portable Aluminum folding table
Picture frames
Office panel dividers