Folk Arts - Master Artist - Norma Pendleton

Norma Pendleton learned to weave baskets from her mother while living on the Makah Indian Reservation. Norma is an enrolled member of The Makah Indian Tribe, renowned for weaving beautiful and practical baskets. Norma’s work is featured in a permanent exhibit at the Makah Cultural and Research Center, in Neah Bay.

As a recipient of a 2001 Apprenticeship grant, Pendleton taught Loise Thompson to gather and prepare raw materials used to weave baskets. Pendleton also taught Loise different weaving styles, focusing on pre-contact and modern patterns.

Loise Thompson is an enrolled member of the Makah Indian Trib. Loise learned the basics of Makah basketry from her aunt and grandmother as a youth, but never mastered the craft. Loise hopes to someday be a master herself, self-sufficient, and able to pass weaving traditions on to students of her own.