August 23, 2024: Basket Making Workshop

Description

Instructor: Jennifer Lee

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Date: Friday, August 23, 2024

Duration: 8 hours, lunch included

Time: 9:00AM to 5:00PM EST

Location: 80 Bassett Road, Shelburne MA 01370

Cost: sliding scale of $160 – $240

# of Participants: up to 20

Experience Level: All are welcome. Open to children ages 8+ with an adult.

Program Description

During this full day workshop, you will make your own Mokok ash bark basket.

A Mokok is a Northeast woodland Native American style container made of bark, stitched with spruce roots. The bottom is rectangular, the top is round or oval. They were originally used to harvest and store food and accoutrements. In this class you’ll learn to sew with spruce roots that you’ll prepare. If the roots are thick enough, you’ll split them. An inner and outer rim is made by splitting a red willow stick that is bent gradually. Different stitching patterns will be shown. If you finish in time and so desire, you can embellish your basket with a collar and /or appliqué.

All tools for this workshop will be provided, but if you’d like to bring your own, we’ll be utilizing: scissors, a utility knife, needle nose pliers, a four sided awl, and a bowl for water. An apron is recommended.

Trees that are shading the garden are debarked in spring. Bark is sewn with spruce root and rimmed with Arrowwood or Red Osier Dogwood. Wood is used for lumber or firewood. All materials are harvested in the Northern Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts and baskets are made from a single piece of bark, folded to create shape. Bark texture, color and sizes may vary as each piece of bark is unique.

Bark is to the Northeast woodland Tribes as Bison is to the Tribes of the Great Plains, the Lakota, Cheyanne, Osage etc. There is a season for harvesting bark that varies by species, weather and growing situation. The sustainable harvesting of Bark, Roots and Red Willow will be discussed.

Bark Basket Making

“These bark baskets are made from the trees around my house. Following the season of “loose bark moon” or when the bark is slipping, the bark is peeled from a ladder so it won’t get ruined during felling. By selectively thinning the forest, which is a 45 year overgrown apple orchard, I’ve sustained my bark basket supply and improved the woods.

“Historical accounts of the use of Ash, Oak, Pine, Spruce, Elm, Chestnut, Linden and Birch barks to cover wigwams encouraged me to try different barks for baskets. These baskets are made from trees that shaded the garden and needed to be taken down.

“Buffalo or Bison is the material culture of the Nations of the Western Plains: the Lakota and the Osage. Bark is the material culture of the Northeast woodland tribes: the Abenaki, Ojibway, Narragansett and Pequot.

“Joy describes the feeling of taking only bark roots and branches, and making something strong and usable in the tradition of my Native ancestors.  People get so happy and proud when they fashion something so beautiful and durable from the woods.  The trees make a way for me to share, celebrate, express, participate and contribute.”

– Jennifer Lee

About our Instructor

Jennifer Lee has been enjoying making bark baskets for 40 years. Her interest began with the study of her Northeast woodland Native American ancestors. She teaches basket classes and educational programs extensively. The bark roots and branches are wild harvested by her family in the Northern Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. She’s received awards at the Mohegan Wigwam Festival, Saratoga Native American Festival, Kearsarge Indian Museum, Deerfield Craft Show, and North Carolina Basketmakers’ Association.

Jennifer Lee is enrolled with the Metis Nation of North America and the Northern Narragansetts.  She grew up without knowledge of her Indian Ancestry.  She has spent her adult life learning the true history and culture of the Northeast Woodland Indigenous Peoples.  She shares what she’s learning at schools, historic sites, and community events.  Often, classes are held in her conical wigwam.  She lives in the Northern Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts.  She spends her time with her Grandkids, gardening, berry picking, maintaining the houses she’s built, making baskets, teaching basketry, and attending as many powwows as possible.  She is grateful to the Creator for being able to follow her heart.

Learn More About Jennifer Lee

Please contact us with any questions at office@fabric-of-life.org.

Our sliding scale fee allows us to keep our programming accessible to a wide range of individuals through the generosity of our community. Please select the option that feels the most comfortable for you.