Susan Santiago Billy Explained

Susan Santiago Billy (born Andrea Susan Santiago; October 5, 1884 – November 20, 1968) was a Native American Pomo basket weaver from the Hopland Band Pomo Indians of California in Northern California. Her parents were Silva Santiago and Tudy Marie Arnold.[1]

In 1900, she married Cruz Billy, a leader at the Hopland Rancheria. Her granddaughter is artist Susan Billy who was inspired by her grandmother to learn the art of Pomo basketry and later studied under her great-aunt Elsie Allen for 15 years until her aunt's death in 1990.[2] She was an curator, speaker and demonstrator at many cultural events of her home community.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Suzanne Abel-Vidor . Dot Brovarney . Susan Billy . Remember your relations : the Elsie Allen baskets, family & friends . April 1, 2005 . Heyday . 978-0930588809 . 46 .
  2. Book: Jill Ahlberg Yohe . Teri Graves . Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists . 2019 . University of Washington Press . 978-0-29574-579-4 . 165–166 .
  3. Web site: Susan Billy: The Pomo Basket BAMPFA. 2020-07-03. bampfa.org. November 18, 2015 .