Emily Waheneka | |
|---|---|
Kis-Sun-Y | |
 Emily Waheneka in 2002 | |
| Born | February 11, 1919 Simnasho, Oregon |
| Died | January 28, 2008 (aged 88) |
| Resting place | Warm Springs, Jefferson County, Oregon |
| Nationality | Native American |
| Known for | beadwork |
| Style | traditional |
| Spouse | Grant Waheneka |
| Awards | Women's Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement Award 1993 |
Emily Waheneka (1919-2008) was a Native American artist, of Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute tribal heritage.[1]
Waheneka is a beadworker in the Sahaptin traditions, her original designs embody the Warm Springs tradition.[2] The Sahaptin peoples include the confederated tribes on the Yakima, Warm Springs, and Umatilla reservation. During her lifetime, she was influenced by her mother and grandmother's beadwork, and was an active participant in Waashat religion, community, and culture. She is known for her beadwork and other sewn crafts. The range of her work included beaded contoured bags, tobacco pouches, ceremonial buckskin dancing attire such as wing-dresses and ribbon shirts, as well as designs for Pendleton coats.
By 1805, beads, which were introduced by Europeans, played an important role in the local trade economy for many Native peoples. Trade beads came in a wide range of colors allowing Native American artists to experiment. Sahaptin peoples developed their own distinguishing beadwork identified by a simplified, bold designs.[citation needed]
By teaching and counseling, Waheneka kept alive the visual arts traditions and history of her people.[2] Her work is represented in numerous private collections, and in the permanent collections of The Museum at Warm Springs in Oregon and the Museum of Northwest Art. She taught traditional Native bead working, and was certified by the Native American Arts & Crafts council.[3][4]
- ^ "Social Security Death Record: Emily Waheneka". Moose Roots. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ a b "National Women's Caucus for Art Conference." Bellevue Art Museum, WCA Honor Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Visual Arts, 1993, pp. 2–29.
- ^ "Honor Awards, 1993: Emily Waheneka". nationalwca.org. National Women's Caucus for Art. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ Gogol, John M. (September 1985). "Columbia River/Plateau Indian Beadwork". American Indian Basketry and other Native Arts. 18: 4–5.