The McKinnon Family: From Basketry to Bowls
Curated by Dennis McKinnon
Dennis McKinnon, Yurok
Honoring Heritage Through Woodworking
Dennis McKinnon is a proud Yurok Tribe member with Tolowa and Yurok ancestry. He spent his early years along the Klamath River on McKinnon Hill and in Klamath, Ca., Del Norte County.
In 1962, the McKinnons moved to Blue Lake, Ca., Humboldt County. Raised by a Yurok father and a Tolowa/Yurok mother, Dennis grew up immersed in Native culture and community.
After retiring from a federal career in engineering and computer science, Dennis returned to woodworking - skills taught by his father. Through segmented woodturning, he creates wood art inspired by traditional Yurok basket designs.
"I appreciate the role the McKinnon Family has played in preserving the Yurok cultural identity, and my hope is that my interpretation of this art and craftmanship contributes to that legacy." - Dennis McKinnon
Honoring Heritage Through Woodworking
Dennis McKinnon is a proud Yurok Tribe member with Tolowa and Yurok ancestry. He spent his early years along the Klamath River on McKinnon Hill and in Klamath, Ca., Del Norte County.
In 1962, the McKinnons moved to Blue Lake, Ca., Humboldt County. Raised by a Yurok father and a Tolowa/Yurok mother, Dennis grew up immersed in Native culture and community.
After retiring from a federal career in engineering and computer science, Dennis returned to woodworking - skills taught by his father. Through segmented woodturning, he creates wood art inspired by traditional Yurok basket designs.
"I appreciate the role the McKinnon Family has played in preserving the Yurok cultural identity, and my hope is that my interpretation of this art and craftmanship contributes to that legacy." - Dennis McKinnon
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Dorothy Marie (Pete) McKinnon
Tolowa/Yurok, 1924-2022 Dorothy was born in Brookings, OR. on September 1, 1924. She attended grade school in Gasquet and the Riverside Indian School (RIS), where she met and married Carl Melton McKinnon (Yurok), in 1942. After RIS they began their married life in San Diego. Later, they moved to live on the Klamath River and build their home on McKinnon Hill. Carl worked in the logging industry and he and Dorothy spent many years hunting, fishing, gardening, gathering and canning. Dorothy and Carl raised two sons, Carl (Butch) and Dennis. In 1962, the family moved to Blue Lake. At age 50, Dorothy learned the art of basket weaving from her mother-in-law, Nettie McKinnon. Dorothy continued weaving baskets into her 90's. As her hands aged and with lack of available materials, in the early 1990's she began to transition from traditional materials to pine needle baskets. In 1999, Dorothy accepted a council position with the Blue Lake Rancheria and served until 2022. |
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Dorothy McKinnon: Early Fruit Basket
After learning the basics of Yurok basket weaving, Dorothy continually practiced. When she completed this Yurok Fruit Basket, she felt that it was crafted well enough to give to her good friend Joyce (Ryerson) Allison. This was in the late 1970's and is the first basket she gave as a gift. Recently, Joyce and her daughter, Debra Ryerson, gifted this basket to be with out Dorothy McKinnon family collection. Left: The Fruit Basket made by Dorothy McKinnon in the late 70's |
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Dorothy McKinnon: The Transition Period
In the 1990's Dorothy transitioned from using traditional Yurok materials to pine needles. Limited access to materials and aging hands, but, still having the desire to make baskets Dorothy learned pine needle basketry. Notice the combination of the two different plate styles with the center medallions using traditional Yurok materials and the rim using pine needles. As best she could, she used similar designs and shapes using pine needles. This allowed her to continue her art form and craftmanship into her 90's. 
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Above: Basketry Mat made by Dorothy McKinnon combining traditional Yurok basketry materials (center) and pine needles (outer).
Left: Dorothy McKinnon Baskets. Notice how she maintained the traditional tobacco basket form even when using pine needles. |