Folk Arts - Master Artist - Ed Carriere

Ed Carriere. Photo by Fritz Dent.

For thirty years, Ed Carriere, recognized for his knowledge of basket weaving, has exhibited as well as lectured and given demonstrations on the tradition of canoe carving. Among his many students is his son. The elder Carriere picked up his skills from a variety of sources, not only from his parents and tribal elders, but also credits his Navy experience with teaching him the planning skills involved with carving a canoe. Carriere’s broad outlook is evident in how he sees the act and value of passing on traditions, and how he sees the younger members of his tribe. He believes teaching traditional ways honors his ancestors, as well as his descendants; the latter because he is entrusting them with the valued assets of the tradition. He balances the concept of the past with the future, by regarding history as important, while also doing what he can to provide a future for his community, helping them prepare for a changing world.

As a recipient of a 1996 Apprenticeship grant, Carriere taught Mary Lou Slaughter to weave traditional Salish cedar baskets and shredded cedar-bark clothing. Mary Lou became aquatinted with Carriere through her teacher Loa Ryan. Mary Lou enrolled in a basket weaving class taught by Tsimshian artist Loa Ryan, who subsequently, urged her to contact Ed Carriere.Traditionally, woven baskets served a functional purpose among Northwest Coastal tribe. They were used to carry food items such as clams, berries, fish, and water. During this apprenticeship, Slaughter also learned to gather and prepare the natural materials with which to construct baskets, such as traditional grasses, roots, and bark. She used them to weave clam and cattail baskets. These types of baskets were at one time in common use. In the 1940s, however, cheaply produced wire baskets became available, and the popularity of handmade baskets plummeted. Carriere and Slaughter seek to reverse this trend. Slaughter enjoys weaving baskets, and puts hard work and creativity into her pieces. She participated in this apprenticeship in order to teach her grandchildren and other tribal members this valuable tradition.

As a recipient of a 1997 Apprenticeship grant, Carriere taught his son Jeff Carriere to carve traditional canoes. Carriere focused his teachings to planning the shape and carving, using tools made by Carriere. The finished canoe was donated to their tribe for use in ceremonies and festivals, becoming the only canoe the Suquamish tribe owns.

Carriere received Washington State's highest artistic honor in 2005 as the recipient of a Governor's Heritage Award.