Essie Pinola Parrish (1902–1979), was a Kashaya Pomo spiritual leader and exponent of native traditions. She was also a notable basket weaver.[1][2][3]
Essie Pinola Parrish | |
|---|---|
| Born | Essie Nellie Fisk Pinola 1902 |
| Died | 1979 |
| Nationality | Kashaya Pomo, American |
| Known for | Basket weaving, Kashaya language studies |
| Movement | Native American basketry |
| Patron(s) | Robert F. Kennedy |
Parrish was born Essie Pinola in 1902 at the Stewarts Point Rancheria in Stewarts Point, California.[4] At the age of 6, she was recognized as a shaman by the Kashaya and eventually became the spiritual leader of the Kashaya community. She was considered a prophet and a skilled interpreter of dreams.[4][5]
Parrish was also a healer and a teacher.[4] Parrish educated Kashaya (Kashia) children in the Kashaya Pomo language. She collaborated with Robert Oswalt, a linguist at University of California, Berkeley, to write a dictionary of Kashaya Pomo.[citation needed] Her work on Kashaya Pomo is in the California Language Archive.[6] She helped create over 20 anthropological films documenting Pomo culture.[7] She lectured at the New School in New York City in 1972.[8]
Parrish was well known for her expertise in basket weaving. Robert F. Kennedy was among her collectors.[5]