Sarah (Grinnell) Klostermeier

Sarah (Grinnell) Klostermeier is the granddaughter of Elaine and Fred Grinnell, and the daughter of Julie Grinnell-Borde and Steven Donahue. Sarah remains very close with her siblings: Khia Grinnell, Michael Donahue, and Jon M. Donahue. Together, they all grew up on Jamestown beach, in Sequim, Washington, as did generations before them. Sarah is from the Prince family in the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and from the James family in Lummi.

After graduating Sequim High School, she obtained an Associates Degree from Whatcom Community College and continued on to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, minoring in Psychology, from Western Washington University. Her time in Bellingham allowed her to expand her teaching experiences, and build relationships.

Bellingham is where she met her husband, Jacob Klostermeier, a descendent of the White Earth Band of the Chippewa Nation, in Northern Minnesota. As a family, they now live on the Olympic Peninsula, to be surrounded by her family, and her tribe. Her and her family love outdoor activities, and camp all year around throughout Washington.

As a child, Sarah was taught to weave by her grandmother, and honored Elder, Elaine Grinnell. She has had various other teachers, including master weavers from the Lummi Tribe, and Makah Tribe (Theresa Parker). Sarah began teaching Native American Youth through the Northwest Native American Basketweavers Association (NNABA) in 2008, at the age of sixteen. She has since then attended every year to teach youth, adults, and elders. She has taught at the Weavers Teaching Weavers, in Bellingham for numerous years now, and No Frills weaving events that are put on by NNABA, throughout the years, at rotating locations.

Since 2019, Sarah has been an Artist Mentor and active member of the Native Voices Leadership Team, making the transition to Cattail Rising’s Advisory Board in 2024. She, alongside her Grandmother Elaine Grinnell and Mother Julie Grinnell, host intergenerational teachings both in-person and virtually, for Native youth around Washington State. Together they teach a variety of skills including baskets, varying sizes of Reed baskets, cedar baskets, cedar mats, and more. Sarah loves to teach, and enjoys the friendships built through teaching the traditional art. She plans to pass the tradition on to her daughter, Ahliah (7), and many generations to come.