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American Indian Art from the Pacific Northwest
Mary Haldane-Kennedy
Mary Kennedy
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ARTIST STATEMENT
Mary T. Haldane-Kennedy is a Tsimshian/Haida from the eagle clan, also known in Tsimshian as Laxsgiik. Daughter of Frieda C. Buxton-Haldane and George E. Haldane, originally from Metlakatla Alaska, she has been very active in the community.  Culture has been an important element of her life and has influenced the art both in weaving and in making regalia. Much of what was taught by her elders is very important as she strives to maintain what was taught to her nearly 30 years ago through the JOM and in cultural dancing.

Mary with DelorisAs a child there were many who were involved in teaching the many aspects of culture which were making regalia using beading, button blanket making and weaving. However the main techniques this artist uses in her weaving were taught by Deloris Churchill. As a featured artist in the first fashion show in which one of the goals was to work with disadvantaged youth there were two full sets of regalia featured. This included Red Cedar bark hats, button blankets, dresses, moccasins, some pouches and a vest. This was held the weekend before the 2000 celebration started. As a featured artist she was the first Tsimshian to be recognized for "weaving" since the mid 1980's.

In 2001 she moved to Bellingham, Washington, to attend Northwest Indian College, to pursue a degree in Native American Studies. Currently a member of Phi Theta Kappa, she attended a conference for AIHEC which is the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. She received 1st, 2nd & 3rd place in the art competition in April of 2002. The first place item was her button robe blanket; the second and third place awards were for her weaving, which was recognized as 'functional art'. Education has always been important and teaching weaving has been the main goal! She is now working as a weaving instructor for the College, teaching Pacific Northwest Coast weaving part time. Mary also currently works as a volunteer at various Head Start programs. She taught ages preschool to adult in her home state of Alaska, Washington and in British Columbia, Canada.

Some of the works featured here are for sale and it is dependant on materials available. A majority of the work is done with Red Cedar bark which is common in Tsimshian weaving. The work involved in making some of these baskets and hats takes a long time. For instance, the basket in which the ravenstail is used takes anywhere from 30-40 hours depending on the weaver. Although most people are not willing to pay what it's worth, she wanted to display them for showcase. If you are willing to wait for them then something can be worked out if the materials are available. A constant effort in maintaining the form and techniques of traditional weaving is important and can be found in a majority of the work featured here.

You can find her work with collectors who value the honor of this time honored tradition. They are in Japan, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, and in the United States, in Alaska and California. It's quite an honor to be able to do something the Tsimshian women did long ago and to be able to teach it!