Indigenous Weaver, Ace Baker Sr.

Mt. Vernon, Washington
A Resiliency Fund Grantee Partner

It was during a Canoe Journey to Puyallup three years ago that Ace Baker Sr. first thought about making himself a cedar hat.

Baker and his family were camped in a spot away from where the main ceremonies were being held, and it was hot and dusty. He saw people walking around with cedar hats on, protecting them from the sun.

It took me a long time, because I have a real tedious brain. I was in the Army for 12 years, so I pay a lot of attention to detail.
I took my time and I made my first hat—and it took me probably longer than it’s taken any other hat I’ve made since then—but I got it done.

Ace Baker Sr.

Fortunately, he and his family were traveling at the time with their friend Aurelia Bailey, the cultural events coordinator for the Swinomish Tribal Community.  Baker asked her if she would teach him to make a hat.

“That knowledge was passed down to her—that line of knowledge goes back a long ways. And you know, she gave it to me freely,” he says.

Since the family was camped for two weeks, Baker had a bit of time on his hands.

Not that he got to wear it. “Just when I was about to finish it up, they said I was supposed to give it away—you’re supposed to give away your first project like that. So I ended up giving that hat to Aurelia. And I still haven’t made myself a hat,” Baker says.

Subsequent hats have gone to family and friends, and last year Baker donated one of his hats for the Potlatch Fund Annual Gala’s Silent Auction.