Pat Courtney Gold, Wasco-Wishram, grew up on the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon and became a professional mathematician. Inspired in part by the Peabody's "Sally Bag," possibly collected by Lewis and Clark, she became dedicated to reviving the traditional twined fiber arts of her people. This bag, like others that Pat has woven, refers to the Lewis and Clark bag and honors the ancestral weavers whose work Pat has studied in museums. Pat harvests and processes traditional plant fibers (such as dogbane) for her work, which often depicts the natural world along the Columbia River. Her fiber art has led her to become a tireless environmental and cultural educator. In addition to receiving international recognition for her innovative weavings, Pat has been honored by the Native American community for her wholistic vision. In 2003, the First People's Fund awarded her a Community Spirit Award, given to "talented people who are living examples of generosity, responsibility, and strength."
Watch an exhibition video about weaving history with Pat Courtney Gold.