This collection documents educational workshops and reflections by teachers and elders of the Makah Indian tribe which promote and sustain spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental well-being for the community of Neah Bay, in Clallam County, Washington. Funding was provided by a 2023 Community Collections Grant from the Mellon Foundation, administered by the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.

The teachers documented for this project were Isabell Ides, MaryJane Ides, Brian Parker, Spencer McCarty, and Steve Jimmicum. Keely Parker served as the Project Coordinator and Jason Todd Roberts recorded and edited all the video material.

The documentation consists of seventeen digital video files and accompanying transcripts. Several videos document subsistence activities such as foraging for edible plants like cranberries, gathering and preparing stinging nettles to make pesto, and preparing and steaming salmonberries (Latin: Rubus spectabilis), a local delicacy. Experts in hunting for wild game provide detailed instructions on stalking elk and demonstrate the proper ways of preparing it for consumption. Elders recollect lessons they learned about harvesting traditional marine food sources while they were participating in seal and whale hunts.

A distinct subset of recordings are folktales that feature the exploits of Qʷ̓e·ti, the Makah ancestor and trickster-hero figure. These tales impart moral lessons to audiences by pointing out the consequences of arrogance, improper behavior with elders, and unkind actions towards others. A few recordings explicitly address the importance of prayers and spiritual practices in Makah social and cultural life. These recordings convey significant teachings for sustaining the health and values of the local community, as well as practical wisdom that could benefit wider audiences.