Martha George facts for kids

Martha George (born April 28, 1892 – died January 7, 1987) was an important leader of the Suquamish tribe. She was elected as their chairperson many times. She served in this role from the late 1920s to the early 1940s.

Martha George was a descendant of Chief Seattle, a famous leader from the Washington state area. She also started an organization called the Small Tribes Organization of Western Washington. This group helped smaller Native American tribes.

Martha George: A Skilled Weaver

Martha George was very well known for her amazing skill in weaving baskets. She was a master weaver. She even taught others, including another famous weaver named Peg Deam.

Learning to Weave

Peg Deam once shared a story about learning from Martha George. When Peg was a little girl, she asked Martha to take her to gather bark for a special cedar dress. Martha laughed because winter was not the right time to collect bark. Instead, she took Peg in the spring when the bark was ready.

Basket Collection

Martha George's collection of beautiful Salish baskets is now shown at the Suquamish Museum. This allows many people to see her incredible work.

Words of Wisdom

Martha George shared important ideas about respecting the Earth. She once said in a video documentary called Come Forth Laughing: "They took what they needed and that's all. There's nothing wasted. That's quite important among the Indians: that you should respect the earth." This quote shows how much she valued nature and using resources wisely.