Basketry of the Columbia Basin: Weaving demonstrations and hands on activities at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge!
July 14th, 2013:
12pm- 4pm
Experience Chinookan Native American Culture, traditional basketry techniques of our Region, and enjoy the many hiking and wildlife watching opportunities of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge!
The Columbia Basin Basketry Guild (www.basketryguild.org) will be in the Plankhouse demonstrating materials and techniques traditionally used in basketry of this region. Included will be cedar bark preparation and weaving of Pacific NW Coast sweetgrass, tule and cattail. There will also be special activities for children all day. Try your hand making rope from native plants or mini cattail mats. Learn about local Native American culture first hand in the Plankhouse, and take a walk down the adjacent nature trail and see if you can find the many kinds of wildlife that call the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Home.
The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a modern Chinookan Plankhouse built to interpret the Chinookan village of Cathlapotle that once existed on what is today Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge property. At the time Lewis and Clark visited Cathlapotle, it had 14 large plankhouses and a population of over 900 people. The modern Cathlapotle Plankhouse is used to provide educational programs to youth and the general public through our Lifeways, Landscapes, and Wildlife Interpretive Program. To learn more about the plankhouse visit www.ridgefieldfriends.org or contact Sarah Hill at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov or (360) 887-4106.
Cost: Refuge admission is $3 per vehicle
The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is located on the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge: 28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642