Susan Pavel

sa’ hLa mitSa ~ Dr. Susan Pavel first learned Coast Salish Weaving in the summer of 1996. Each summer she would produce one ceremonial blanket and then gift it. By the fourth year she was selling the weavings. By the seventh year she was invited to teach weaving classes.

Susan has participated and later solo exhibited seven museum exhibits. With public and private collectors across the nation she continues to weave as the year 2016 marked 20 Years of Coast Salish Weaving for her and more importantly – SQ3Tsya’yay – Weaver’s Spirit Power. She was also appointed the executive director of the Coast Salish Wool Weaving Center, a new nonprofit center committed to the preservation and promotion of Coast Salish Wool Weaving where students and volunteers can participate in the entire process of our indigenous weave style here in the Pacific Northwest.

Susan received 2018 GAP Award funding to travel throughout Salish territory to sustainably and spiritually harvest plants to receive natural dyes and their teachings. The plant dyed weavings will be exhibited at Hersonswood, a botanical garden at Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and the Lane Community College Art Gallery in Eugene, Oregon.