The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane has launched a new exhibition celebrating the basketry heritage of Columbia Plateau tribes, showcasing both historical and contemporary works that represent centuries of artistic tradition and cultural knowledge passed down through generations.
“Carrying Tradition: Basketry of the Columbia Plateau” opened this month and will remain on display through May 30, 2027. The exhibit features 36 baskets recently donated by Joey Lavadour of the Umatilla tribe, alongside instructional programs and educational components designed to keep weaving practices alive in regional tribal communities.
A Curator’s Long Journey
Tisa Matheson, curator of the museum’s American Indian Collection, has spent several years developing the exhibition. Her personal connection to the subject runs deep—her mother was taught basket weaving by Katherine Ramsey, a master craftsperson whose knowledge and techniques became foundational to Matheson’s understanding of the cultural significance of these works. One of Matheson’s sisters is herself a master weaver, continuing the family’s relationship with the craft.
The exhibition displays four primary basket types: flat bags, Sally bags used for root gathering, Klickitat bags, and woven hats. The baskets incorporate traditional materials including cedar, dogbane, wool, and bear grass. Notably, some pieces are displayed with visible wear marks from actual use, underscoring that these are functional objects with real histories rather than purely decorative pieces.
Kellen Trenal, a Nez Perce artist, has a basket featured in the exhibition. Trenal’s work carries additional significance—his family lineage connects to Katherine Ramsey, the same weaver who taught Matheson’s mother, illustrating how knowledge and craft traditions flow across tribal families and generations.
Matheson reflected on the importance of the exhibition in countering assumptions about cultural continuity. “It’s not something that is being forgotten about,” she said. “It’s something that is constantly going and constantly being passed on.”
Community Engagement and Living Tradition
The museum is not simply displaying historical artifacts—the exhibition is anchored in active teaching and community participation. Julie Edwards, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, teaches monthly weaving classes at the MAC. During a nine-month class series, Edwards has instructed more than 700 people in basket weaving techniques, making the museum a living center for the perpetuation of the craft rather than a static repository of the past.
Shawn Gunnier, the MAC’s tribal liaison and a Wishxam/Yakama descendant, emphasized the museum’s commitment to using its platform and collections to elevate Plateau artistic traditions. “Here at the MAC, we have a large Plateau collection, and I’d like to use our platform to promote the arts of the Plateau,” Gunnier said.
What Comes Next
The exhibition will run through May 30, 2027, offering visitors and students an extended opportunity to learn about and engage with Columbia Plateau basket weaving. Monthly classes with Julie Edwards provide hands-on instruction for anyone interested in learning the craft, ensuring that the traditions on display are not merely observed but actively practiced and transmitted to new generations of weavers.
The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is located in Spokane and serves communities across the region, including the Palouse and Latah County areas. More information about exhibition hours, class schedules, and educational programming is available through the museum’s website.