Hiroko Takaya, Japanese married into Lil’wat Nation. Hiroko first arrived in Mt. Currie BC from Japan in 1998 and knew that she never wanted to leave. Having fallen in love with the Lil’wat territory and a Lil’wat man of whom she married and had three beautiful sons.
Hiroko is a passionate gardener, herbalist and basket weaver. She has made her life in Lil’wat, living with the wonder of nature which has inspired her creative process. She is inspired by traditional Lil’wat basketry and other ancient basket arts. She is self taught through books and a lot of practice through trial and error but also learned from taking weaving classes with Lil’wat weaving elder, Vera Edmonds.
Hiroko enjoys roaming the wilds with her family, gathering the many splendors that nature has to offer, transforming the fallen and uprooted into works of art. Her style is a blend on contemporary and traditional basket designs which she incorporates with her Japanese roots and influences such as origami.