Tina Robinson is a Ts’msyen Aboriginal artist and mother of three beautiful children. Her crest is a Killerwhale and she belongs to the Ginaxangiik tribe of Lax Kw’alaams. Tina worked with Pearl Innis in Chilkat weaving for Mid-Career Artist Scholarship.
Since Tina started her Chilkat weaving journey in 2016 under the watchful eye of Master Weaver William White, she continues this journey of strengthening her skills of weaving while surrounding herself with knowledge holders and understands that she is weaving these complex designs alongside those that have weaved hundreds of years ago.
Tina’s vision as an artist is to strengthen the art of Chilkat which was passed down through generations before and to share this knowledge with future generations to come, beginning with her daughter. Her focus is on reviving these ancient weaving techniques, constructive elements, and complex processes used in Chilkat weaving. This practice is taught only to a select few as it is a very sacred art form that belongs to the Ts’msyen people of the North Coast.
This vision started with a dream. In this dream, Tina was surrounded by her ancestors speaking in the traditional language of Sm’algyax and she innately knew that this is where she belonged. She heard traditional songs being sung in the background, and even though she did not speak the language, somehow Tina understood what they were singing.
This ignited a fire within to pursue her journey in understanding the traditional and ancestral culture. The wisdom and strength to listen to her heart and follow the path of the generational dreams of past, present, and future, is the force behind Tina’s artistic pursuit. Every piece that she gets the opportunity to create will be woven with pride and from this, Tina honours her mentors and ancestors for entrusting her with this gift of Chilkat.
Instagram: @tinarob1979
‘O’otsm Wüliil
6 1/2 inches by 4 inch dancing cuffs
‘O’otsm Wüliil
6 1/2 inches by 4 inch dancing cuffs
“Made from thigh spun merino wool and cedar and woven on traditional Chilkat hanging loom. The traditional yellow and blue colours were used to match another piece of artwork for whom my piece is going to be gifted to. The design of a spirit eye were created to be the main focal point of this piece. The eye’s hold the knowledge of the past, the understanding of the present and hope for the future.
The split U’s were placed in the cuffs to represent Killerwhale fin’s which is my crest. It incorporates a story of where I have come from. The two circles represents myself and who these cuffs belong to. These cuffs were made to show our two journeys coming together, the spirit eyes watching over the wearer of the cuffs, to give this person the strength to continue their journey with the understanding of the past, and present so there will be no fear of what the future holds.
These cuffs will be given to someone that has been a strong supporter of my journey, and has given me the strength to follow my heart, given me knowledge of where I came from and the guidance so I can move forward as an artist.”
– Tina Robinson
