Pine Needle Weaving

Join us for a hands-on medallion workshop teaching traditional weaving with pine needles with Indigenous maker, Ellissa Thompson.Ellissa Thompson (Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma) grew up in the Bay Area, where she was always drawn to the beadwork worn by powwow dancers and the aunties around her — intricate pieces that carried beauty, tradition, and story. When the COVID-19 pandemic moved her work and school life online, Ellissa chose to deepen her relationship with beadwork — turning a budding passion into both a livelihood and a way to stay connected to community. Along the way, she’s found deep support and learning in the beading circle at Intertribal Friendship House Oakland, in the wider Bay Area Native community, and with her relatives in Chickasaw Country.