Dennis Allen

Dennis Allen is a member of the Skokomish (Twana) Tribe. He was born in Shelton, Washington in 1935. He is the son of William Allen and Rose Pulsifer (Allen). His grandfather, Henry Allen, was one of the last carvers on the Skokomish Reservation and one of the major informants for an extensive anthropology study of the Twana (Skokomish) people.

Dennis has lived on the Skokomish Reservation all of his life. At the age of seven his mother died, and he went to live with his aunt for three years. Then he was sent to boarding school for a year. At the age of eleven he returned to the Skokomish Reservation to live with his grandmother (Katie Pulsifer). His grandmother was blind, so he took on the role of being her provider and caregiver. At an early age he learned how to hunt and fish, not only to provide food for himself and his grandmother, but also to give to other community members in need. While living with his grandmother he was exposed to his culture in every aspect. He made baskets with different elders, prepared traditional foods, gathered materials and medicines, listened to legends, and took part in canoe carving. He also learned how to build boats, (which entailed steaming wood). This was his first encounter with bending wood.

Throughout his adult life, Dennis was a logger and a fisherman, until he decided to become an artist. For years he watched his son, Andy Peterson, carve and paint thinking he personally would never be able to accomplish making such beautiful art. As time passed, he watched his Andy, Andy’s wife, Ruth, and their children create Native art in many different forms, and he became inspired. So, Andy showed him a few different designs and he took them home and worked on them and made some changes. At that point he decided to learn how to make steam-bent boxes and drums and started grafting on designs and painting them. After being involved in different art forms for years, he decided to expand his art career and start carving.

Allen’s work is inspired by the many legends that have been passed down to him. He creates from his heart and enjoys every piece that he creates. He looks forward to expanding his career in many different mediums and dimensions. He continues to be an active community member and feels honored to take part in the revival of Salish art.