‘Crafternoon’ with Bonnie and Kylee

By Heather Purser
Special Contributor

“You’ve got to whip while you stir,” Suquamish Tribal Member Brenda Anderson says, leaning over a bowl of berry paste. It’s the playful tone in her voice that makes the people gathered around her chuckle as they learn how to make jam. Outside, it’s cold and wet, but inside the Elders Kitchen, the room is warm, bright, and full of life for the weekly crafting group held every Thursday at 1 pm.

Hosted by Suquamish Tribal Member Bonnie Brown and Kylee Butler of the Makah Nation, a peer support specialist at Suquamish Wellness, the crafting group brings community members together to create, visit, and unwind. Today, the aroma of simmering jam blends with Bonnie’s freshly made fry-bread. Fall decorations give the room a soft glow, and on any given Thursday you can expect the tables to be covered in supplies that fi t the theme of the day: beads, jars, fabric, paint, ribbon, or whatever the project calls for.

People drift in and out, settling at the tables, telling stories, teasing one another, and laughing easily. One man isn’t making jam at all, he’s happily sketching at the corner table, fully part of the circle in his own way. “Don’t be shy, get in here,” Bonnie grins, encouraging anyone interested to come take part in the gathering. The crafting group restarted about two months ago after people said they missed having a space like this to connect. In the past, the group has made gifts for the community—graduation necklaces, ribbon skirts, Canoe Journey items, and more. Today, like every Thursday, the focus is simple: gather, create, and bring a little warmth to each other’s day.