Sofia Ann Chya

Sofia Ann Chya

About Sofia

Sofia is June Pardue’s daughter. Sofia remembers her mother always weaving. Sofia’s basket weaving experience began at age 7, when June would teach Sofia how to weave a stitch in her basket. In Dutch Harbor, Alaska at age 13, Sofia’s first completed weaving project was a napkin ring. Mother Gromoff helped initiate the project in an Indian education class at the Unalaska high school. The best learning though, Sofia feels, comes from watching June weave. Sometimes while Sofia is weaving, June is watching her over her shoulder and making suggestions. Sofia thinks her mother is a natural teacher. Now, Sofia’s children are also learning from June.