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Skokomish / Squaxin

Andy Wilbur-Peterson

Andy was born in 1955 in Shelton Washington. He is a member of the Skokomish Tribe and has lived on the Skokomish reservation all of his life. As a child he was born and raised in a wealth of culture. Andy's parents, (Arlene and Bert Wilbur), Grandfather (Andrew Peterson), Uncle (Peter Peterson) and his Great Aunt (Bertha Allen), just to name a few, all played a major roll in his life.
While growing up, Andy's grandfather and his dad were two of the biggest influences in his life and they both gave him so much; his grandfather gave him dignity, honor, and a promise for his future. His dad (Bert, who was also born and raised and continues to live in the old traditional ways), taught him everything from fishing, hunting, and preserving foods to carving, legends and history. Together, his parents and grandfather gave him the structure needed to develop and enhance his life within his culture.

In his early twenties, he was reintroduced to his great-aunt (Bertha). Bertha was the daughter of Henry Allen, who was a carver and an informant for an extensive anthropological study of the Skokomish Twana people. Bertha taught Andy so many things about his family and his culture and she also gave him the insight of living a traditional life style. She became so much more to Andy than just an aunt; she also became his grandma and his friend and his mentor.
At the request of his grandfather, and being the fourth generation of the dignified name, Andy recently changed his name back to his birth name, Andrew Peter Peterson. He now looks forward to his grandson and namesake, Thomas Andrew Peterson-BlueBird to carry on the Skokomish traditions of their culture, and maybe he too will become a carver and carry on the legacy of Andrew Wilbur-Peterson .
Andy would like to end his bio with Special Thanks and a Debt of Gratitude to the following; his Mom, Dad, Grandfather, Aunt Bertha, Creator and Spirit Helpers for always being there for him.

Andy's Career