I have been weaving since I was nine. I was sleeping in a tent under a willow tree, dreaming of my great-grandmother saying, “you have my hands – you know how to weave.”
The willow woke me up and explained to me what to do: where to cut it, how to weave it.
– Corine Pearce
My Radio Show
“Good Ancestors & Local Treasures with Corine Pearce”
The 1st Monday of Each Month on KZYX&Z, Mendocino County’s Public Broadcasting Station
My Pomo name is Pikha-bthum-day which means “basket-flower-woman.”
This is who I am and what I do.
I create all types of basketry: cradle baskets – from miniatures that would fit on a dime, to doll size, to full-size serviceable cradles; twine baskets using six different twining techniques – from simple rough work baskets to fine closed twine baskets; and feather/beaded/plain coil baskets using two separate techniques that are specific to Mendocino, Sonoma, and Lake County Pomo peoples.
I have been recognized by:
2020 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship: I was one of ten inaugural fellowships awarded by the First Nations Development Institute, in partnership with the Henry Luce Foundation, to support Indigenous knowledge holders and knowledge makers dedicated to creating positive community change.
2020 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award: Presented by the First Peoples Fund, “each Community Spirit Award (CSA) honoree has an unwavering devotion to their people, as evidenced by a lifetime commitment to learning and sharing cultural knowledge, stories and art forms with others. CSAs lift the spirit of their communities through passion and generosity throughout their day to day lives.”
2021 Mendocino Arts Champion: I was awarded the title of “Artist of the Year” for my artistry and life work.
Featured Artist in the 2021 California Indian Conference Teaching & Learning Exhibit California American Indian Culture and Arts Pedagogy
Exhibits:
de Young Museum, San Francisco – Forthcoming in 2022 – “Jules Tavernier and the Elem Pomo” – Three baskets
Middletown Art Center – Winter 2021 – “Weaving”; Curator of indigenous art exhibit
Cloverdale History Center and Museum – Fall 2021 – “The Ba:bihšaʔmen Basket Collection-to reclaim more than my name.” – one cradle basket
JoAnn Fabrics Los Angeles – Permanent Exhibit – “California Wall” – Multiple baskets.
I teach basketry, medicinal plants, and post-fire restoration horticulture
Teaching: Community Centers
- California Indian Museum and Cultural Center
- The Grace Hudson Museum
- Consolidated Tribal Health Center–Ukiah
- Yakama Indian Education and Development Inc
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resource Naturalist Program–Hopland
- The Not So Simple Living Fair–Boonville
- Women’s Wilderness Skills Immersion-Occidental
Teaching: Tribes
- Redwood Valley Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians
- Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians
- Sherwood Valley Band
- Pinoleville Nation
- Habemetol Pomo
- Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians
- Big Valley Pomo
- Elem Indian Colony
- Hopland Band of Pomo Indians
- Cloverdale Rancheria,
- Pottery Valley Band
- Robinson Rancheria
- Round Valley Indian Tribes and Reservation
Experience
Native Studies Education Coordinator
(2019-Present)
Assist in coordinating a three-year program creating Mendocino County-based K-12 curriculum focusing on local Native history and living culture for every school in the Ukiah Unified School District.
Hand on Materials Management
(The Past 30 years)
Hands-on maintenance of traditional materials and harvesting sites. Self-study with elders and ecological and ethological books regarding traditional land management techniques.
Practical Study of Basketry Techniques & Designs
(All my life)
Researching and examining text, pictures, and museum collections of baskets; experimenting to perfect the curing and drying process of raw, wild-harvested weaving materials. Although I have lacked formal teachers, I seek out weavers to critique my weaving styles whenever and where ever I can.
Corine Pearce 