Novices, veterans share the art of Indigenous basket weaving. Watch what we learned

Standing at the gates of the Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, Washington, I felt like the kid at the grown-ups' table. Speckled around the picturesque entrance overlooking the Columbia River were small clusters of attendees — mainly older women — eagerly waiting for the museum to open.

I may have a chunk of gray hairs sprouting from my left temple, but let the record show, I'm at least 40 years from retirement. However, none of the attendees seemed to mind as we chatted about what brought us to the Maryhill Museum that Saturday morning in October.

The activity for the day was wa'paas, a traditional Indigenous basket weaving technique. These free workshops, hosted by the museum and facilitated by Chestina Dominguez, provide a monthly opportunity to engage in a craft and be a part of a community.

Indigenous basketry workshops weave community in the Columbia Gorge

Once inside the museum, I was sidetracked by Terri Steinert, a first-time wa'paas workshop attendee, who gave me a sneak peek of the basketry exhibit — a large circular room in the museum's lower floor lined with glass cabinets stuffed with baskets.

Her awe was infectious. Steinert simply adored the basketry and it was easy to see why. Intricate patterns in various shapes made from natural fibers showed the skill and craftsmanship of the weaving — was this to be my yield from the course?

Twenty minutes later, I was sitting at a foldout table with multicolor yarn wrapped around my fingers, learning how to start my first basket.

The materials: yarn and craft cord (plus some patience). Dominguez, a member of the Warm Springs and Yakama tribes, began the session with a demonstration of the first steps.

Start by measuring out four arm-lengths of yarn and cutting a single continuous strand, along with 12 foot-long pieces of craft cord.

Align the craft cords evenly, then take the midpoint of the yarn strand and wrap it around the center of the craft cords twice to secure them in place.

Now the yarn is split into two groups on each side of the center. Start by wrapping the cord around each side as if you're tying a ponytail. After a couple loops, split each section down the middle and wind smaller sections — two chunks of 12 cords, then four chunks of six cords, eight chunks of three cords and so on. Repeat this pattern, working around the center in a circular motion until you're left with single cord sections.

At this point you've created the base of your basket. Continue weaving around each singular cord to build up the height. The cord will naturally bend into a bowl shape as you progress.

After an hour of peaceful weaving, I had made significant progress. Throughout the class, people shared their weaving struggles and triumphs, helping each other along the way. Some were first-timers like me, while others were weaving veterans. As we worked, we talked about why we were there — some for the craft, some for community, and others for healing.

Regardless of your age, the activity is a meditative and healing practice, Dominguez said. She encourages everyone to give it a try. My recent haul of yarn and I wholeheartedly agree.

If you're interested in experiencing this yourself, the wa'paas workshop of the year takes place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, Washington. To learn more, visit Maryhill Museum's calendar of events .

And for those who want to try next year, mark your calendars for March when Chestina's classes will start up again. Each month, from March to November, you'll find community members from all over the Pacific Northwest gathering here to learn and connect.

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— Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; or