Weaving Traditions

Selina Peratrovich learned to weave at age 24 by watching her mother—in—law Elizabeth Adams. Selina was instrumental in keeping the tradition of Haida basketry alive and was an early instructor at the Totem Heritage Center. Among Selina's most notable students were her daughter, Delores Churchill, and her granddaughters Holly Churchill, April Churchill, and Evelyn Vanderhoop, all renowned weavers. Continuing the tradition, Holly teaches Brooke Johnson the fundamentals of basket weaving during the Introduction to Cedar Bark Weaving class at the Totem Heritage Center in 2014. Brooke became the new museum director of the Ilanka Cultural Center in Cordova in 2015.

Modern image
Photographer: Museum staff
Pictured (left to right): Holly Churchill and Brooke Johnson
Ketchikan Museums photo

Historic image
Selina Peratrovich teaching basket weaving, 1974
Photographer: Gail Fisher
Pictured (left to right): Selina Peratrovich and Erma Lawrence
Donor: Dr. Quentin and Gail Fisher, THS 74.7.4.19