Showcasing California Native Arts

Jennifer D. Bates

California Native Consultant & Mewuk Basket Weaver

Native Talks and Demonstrations

Contemporary Traditionalist

My mother's family is from the village of Hechenu’ In Calaveras County, California located in the Central Sierra. My father was from the island of Bohol, Philippines. 

I owned and operated one of the first California Native American art galleries, the Bear n’ Coyote. I sold works for and by California tribal people, descendants from tribes throughout California. 

I was a  founding board member and first chairperson for the state wide non-profit California Indian Basketweavers Association (CIBA). I chaired for 14 years. 

I have sat on panels for the Alliance for California Traditional Art (ACTA) for a good 25+ years.

Attended the Procession  for the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of  American Indians Museum representing the California Indian Basketweavers  Association (CIBA). 

Guest curated several Art Shows within California representing California Native Artists with their traditional and contemporary art work. Three  were open at the Grinding Rock State Historical Park, Pine Grove, CA. The other show was in Santa Barbara at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.

Traveled twice to Mexico with a cultural exchange program. I demonstrated Basketry and represented CIBA (California Indian Basketwevers Association) while there. 

I represented basket weavers from California at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Indians in Washington D.C., delivering an opening speech on family, traditions and culture. .

I have been the  coordinator for the PIT Project (Passage in Time) working alongside the US Forest Service, mainly the Stanislaus National Forest. I have helped produce and teach over 12 years of the four (4) day PIT projects. 

Received two Master/Apprenticeship grants from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA).

I worked for 16 years for the Tuolumne Band of Mewuk  as the Personnel Development Manager at Black Oak Casino. In those years I coordinated and presented the California Indian Market  which is celebrating 17 years. For the last two years I have been contracted to coordinate the event. 

I participate on grant panels which include California Arts Council , Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA), Humboldt Foundation, in Eureka, CA. and most recently have been asked to sit with the Hewlett Foundation to help formalize a new grant application for the Performing Arts division.

I sit on the Native American Advisory Council  for the Oakland Museum. I chair the Council.

I am on the Guardian Council for our local, Center for a Non-Violent Community, going on four years.

I am a traditional Mewuk basket weaver and have been weaving for almost 50 years. I have taught classes, demonstrated and do presentations on basketry and Mewuk and Central California material culture.

I have a son, Carson, his life partner Sara and my sweetest little grandson, Henry. 

I also have my dog Snickers who keeps me warm and happy.