Julie Grinnell-Borde

My Native name is Kʷkʷilcəd, I am named after my mother Kʷilcəd- Elaine Grinnell. My English name is Julie Grinnell-Borde. I am from the Prince family, a tribal citizen of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and a descendant of the Lummi Nation. Daughter of Elaine and Fred Grinnell, great -great-great granddaughter of Chief Chetzemoka, Chief of the Jamestown S’Klallam people.

I was born and raised on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, playing and gathering food on the same beaches my mother, Elaine was raised on, and ancestors before us. I left for a short period of time to go to school, and returned to live near my parents and grandparents. This is where I raised my four children, Khia, Michael, Sarah and Jon, on Jamestown Beach in Sequim, Washington. They, like myself, grew up connected and a part of our tribal community.

For 10 years I was a Tribal Commercial Fish Buyer for Tribal Fishermen before venturing out into the Geoduck Diving business for 10 years. Now, I am now the Dental Clinic Operations Manager, for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

Years ago, as a board member for Northwest Native Basketry Association (NNABA), my mother Elaine, invited my two daughters and I to join the weaving conference. Since then, I have been taught by, and have been teaching beside master weavers from Makah and Lummi Nations; along with other master weavers from all Nations, at the NNABA gatherings. Since 2008, I’ve been teaching the Youth Track program during the NNABA basket weaving conferences. We have been asked to teach at Weavers Teaching Weavers in Lummi, No Frills events, and private gatherings as well.

Since I have been teaching our Youth Track weavers how to weave baskets for over a decade now; I often get the privilege of seeing a child weave their first basket. I have enjoyed every minute with them and watching them as they grow from year to year. My students have ranged in age and experience, from 3 years old to elders, some with many more years of experience than myself.

The joy on a student’s face when they complete their basket, or feel they have mastered the basket I am teaching, alongside the pride they feel when they show their family is heartwarming and unlike any other experience involving both art and culture. Our hope to leave this special gift behind for many more generations to enjoy, and to pass on to their children and loved ones.