| Martha George | |
| Tribe: | Chairperson of the Suquamish tribe from the late 1920s to the early 1940s |
| Birth Date: | April 28, 1892 |
| Birth Place: | Sheridan, Washington |
| Nicknames: | Martha Purser |
| Spouse: | Bennie George, of the Klallam |
| Children: | 10 |
| Relations: | Chief Seattle |
Martha George (April 28, 1892 - January 7, 1987) was a native American tribal leader, repeatedly elected chairperson of the Suquamish tribe, serving from the late 1920s to the early 1940s. She was a descendant of Chief Seattle in present-day Washington state. She founded the Small Tribes Organization of Western Washington.[1]
George was a famous basketweaver, who taught master weaver Peg Deam.
Deam recounted a story of when she was a little girl and asked George to take her to gather bark for a cedar dress. George laughed - winter is not the time for gathering - and took her in the spring.[2]Her collection of Salish baskets is displayed in the Suquamish Museum.[3]
"They took what they needed and that's all. There's nothing wasted. That's quite important among the Indians: that you should respect the earth."[4]—Martha George, in the video documentary Come Forth Laughing