2004 NEA National Heritage Fellowships

GERALD "SUBIYAY" MILLER
Skokomish tradition bearer, carver, basket maker, Shelton, WA

Gerald Bruce Miller, known as Subiyay in the Skokomish tribal language, has dedicated his life to learning and passing along the knowledge and artistic skills of his elders. The Skokomish, Coastal Salish people who live near the Puget Sound of Washington State, appointed Gerald as their tribe's cultural and educational director in the early 1970s. Miller is recognized as a master of Skokomish oral traditions, as he is the keeper of a repertoire of over 120 traditional stories, many of which take days to tell. In addition, he maintains a large repertoire of songs and dances related to ceremonies and rituals. Miller helped revive the First Salmon and the First Elk ceremonies and, following his initiation in a longhouse in 1977, brought winter ceremonies back to his people. A visual artist as well, Miller makes baskets, carves ceremonial masks and poles, and makes regalia or ritual dress. In 1993 he received the Washington State Governor's Heritage Award and in 1999 was named a Living Treasure by the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction for his lifetime of work teaching young people.

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