Weaving my story

Halima Ali Zierke Studio

Somali Weaver to speak at PRPL
“My ancestors taught me to weave,” said Halima Ali. Halima is a refugee from Somalia who moved to Pelican Rapids. She learned to weave as a child from her mother and grandmother, and as a young woman wove the mats on which her family slept, the jugs in which they stored water and milk, even the walls of their house. Halima has recreated a group of weavings from her homeland. These weavings are on display at the Pelican Rapids Public Library during the month of March. Halima will demonstrate her weaving techniques and speak about her life as a nomad, at a program at the Pelican Rapids Public Library on Saturday, March 19, at 10:30 AM. Weaving My Story, a documentary video created by Amber Ellison, will also be shown at the program. The video helps Halima explain her life as well as demonstrate her weaving. Halima Ali is a fiscal year 2004 recipient of a Cultural Community Partnership grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. This was a collaborative grant between a nonprofit organization, Friends of the Library, and an artist, Halima. The grant allowed Halima to expand her weaving and it allowed Friends of the Pelican Rapids Library to further it’s goal of bringing cultural opportunities to the Pelican Rapids area. This project was also a collaboration between three artists, Halima Ali, a weaver, Joan Jarvis Ellison, a writer, and Amber Ellison, a videographer. With translation help by Halima’s grandson Mohamed Abdi Hussein, the writing and videography allow Halima to tell her story even though she can’t find the words in English. Join Halima and Mohamed on Saturday, March 19 at 10:30 AM to learn more about Somalia and Somali weaving.