My craft would not exist without the influence of my Nuche’/Ute grandmother, Edna Russell Baker, and my Navajo/Dine’ mother, Diana Cambridge Baker. They taught me the cultural etiquette of “why”, “what”, and “when” an object is to be created, as well as unique details that identify Ute beadwork, clothing, accessories, and utilitarian objects. The reason behind the existence and creation of each object is what propels me to create and decorate objects used by our Ute people. This could include presenting a cradleboard, with appropriate colored brain-tanned hide, to identify the gender of a newborn immediately after birth, or new gauntlets and ties for the male Bear Dancers in the family. I tend to stay close to the cultural patterns taught to me while simultaneously expanding forward decoratively. In the end, whatever materializes, I strive to have techniques, beadwork, and stories behind each object identifiable as Ute.
