(?-Present)
Pueblo: Zuni Pueblo
Robert Weahkee is the great grandson of Teddy Weahkee. Robert Weahkee takes great pride in his Zuni carving heritage and began carving professionally when he was about 15 years old. He started his career by carving old style, Zuni alter dolls. As the name suggests, alter dolls have religious meaning to the Zuni people. In general, they bring good fortune and protect the owner.
Robert is now in his early twenties and his work has progressed considerably. His carvings, while still usually carved in antler, have moved in a more contemporary direction. Other Weahkee family carvers that are still working are Robert’s Aunts Lena Boone and Dinah Gasper and Dina’s daughter, Debra Gasper.
The Weahkee family is among the oldest carving family in Zuni. The earliest recorded Weahkee carver was Teddy Weahkee who worked with noted Zuni dealer C.G. Wallace. Robert Weahkee’s father was Anderson Weahkee. Anderson’s mother was Edna Leki and Edna’s father was Teddy Weahkee.