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Jennie Thlunaut was a member of the Tlingit people of Alaska. The Tlingit were master crafters. At age ten, Jennie's mother taught her to weave. Jennie showed a special talent for weaving and sewing. She made baskets, blankets, and moccasins.
The Tlingit have a special tradition of weaving called Chilkat. Chilkat blankets are woven with bold patterns. The designs tell the history of the Tlingit people. Dancers wear these special woolen blankets to perform in ceremonies. A weaver works for a whole year to make one blanket. Jennie made 75 Chilkat pieces during her life.
Soon, factories began to make woolen blankets. Jennie worried that the art of making Chilkat blankets would be lost. She spent her life showing others how to weave at festivals and workshops. By teaching other people this special skill, she saved the tradition of Chilkat weaving from being lost forever.
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