Mary Lou Slaughter

Shla’dal’ (Lady)

Duwamish of Pacific Northwest

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When I was about 8 years old, my classmates found out that I was Native American. They chased and spit at me all the way home, calling me a dirty old Indian. Crying my eyes out, I stuck my Native American roots in the back of my head, as far as I was concerned, forever.

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At about 50 years old, my son started carving story poles, and I decided I needed to validate his heritage. So I took my great-grandmother’s Indian name, Shla’dal’, which means lady in Lushootseed. At that point, things really changed for me.

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I took lessons and became a master basket weaver using my tribal patterns. I also make hats, vests, and shawls all from red cedar that I gather myself in the woods. I love what I’m doing now, teaching and trying to carry on traditions that were important to our people.