Native American Biographies: Sisters Sophie Allison and Irene Mike

When I was in Duckwater, Sophie Allison and Irene Mike were already part of the Senior Center program.  However they were both still very active.  They were respected as community elders.  They were sisters.  They were faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were some of the few who actually attended the Lund Ward on a regular basis.  The Lund ward was 50 miles away.  When we started a branch in Duckwater, they were very active.
One of the most impressive things about Sophie Allison was her basket weaving.  I feel, in her own right, she was keeping a vanishing tradition alive.  I visited her one afternoon while she was preparing willows for weaving.  She gathered the willows from along creeks.  The Currant Creek had a large patch of willows and this was a favorite spot for gathering.  She would keep the willows in water until she was ready for them.  She would take a willow from the water, and then hold it in her mouth.  With her fingers she would peel the bark away.  In this manner she prepared the willows for weaving.  Sophie was adept at making cradle boards.  They had a different design on the hood for boys and girls.

girl

boy

 She also made baskets.  Mostly she would make baskets to assist in the gathering of pine nuts.  I remember she would make cone shaped baskets for this.
This is a skill that was important to the original Shoshone.  I don't know who is carrying on this tradition now that Sophie is gone.

Sophie in the middle and Irene on the right

Many of the children from the reservation looked to these two women as Grandmother.