Local Basket Makers Honored at Smithsonian Folklife Festival
By: Micki King
Reprinted with permission from Indian Time
Sheila Ransom
This past weekend 25 dedicated people from Akwesasne braved the malicious weather conditions and traveled down to Washington DC to represent our community at the 40th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The Festival kicked off this weekend and runs through July 7th, honoring Native American Basket makers at an exhibit entitled: Carriers of Culture. Over 75 basket makers from across North America ,including Alberta, Hawaiian, and Alaskan Natives, joined the Akwesasne representatives as they shared knowledge of their respective cultures through live demonstrations, dance performances, hands-on activities, food, and of course: Basketry.
The multi-faceted exhibits were able to magnify the diversity and significance of baskets and basket makers to be both symbolically and literally carriers of culture. Helen Lazore was astounded to see all of the different techniques different tribes used in their basket weaving. She was able to make basketry comparisons with different tribes, “the puzzle molds used by the Penobscot tribe of Maine were similar to the ones Mohawks use to use a long time ago. I got different ideas for making my own baskets that might revive the techniques that Mohawks once used” Lazore said. As illustrated by Lazore, it is imperative that one appreciates both the artistic expression as well as the cultural vitality that each basket exemplifies.
Linda Jackson
Another visitor, Sheree Bonaparte could not say enough about the great learning experience she had. She spoke particularly well of the inter-generational relationships she witnessed during her stay. “My son, Ahtkwiroton Skidders, and a couple of other young basket makers bonded as they were able to relate to one another and learn that there were other young people out there who are trying to retain parts of their culture through basket making,” said Bonaparte. Sheree was also accompanied by her daughter and granddaughter, who also actively partook in events.
As honored guests, the Akwesasne visitors were treated with a tour of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) as well as the Conservatory, which contained crafts from Native Americans across North and South America. The NMAI Cultural Resource Centre (CRC) even featured items made from members of Akwesasne, including a basket by Mary Adams, Mary Leaf, Elizabeth Thompson, and corn husk dolls by Rebecca Benedict. It even featured a quilt made by Salli Benedict that was anonymously donated, which Salli herself was astonished to discover.
A few of the Akwesasne residents including Sheila Ransom and Linda Jackson were chosen by the Smithsonian to be presenters at the festival throughout its duration to represent Akwesasne. Ransom and Jackson have a hands-on Basket making demonstration, in which both have chosen to pass on their skill that they learned from the late May Bigtree. Sheree Bonaparte insightfully commented, “Basket making is an interactive way of learning about ones culture that you could not get from reading a book.”
For all the Akwesasne representatives who attended the Folklife Festival, we all greatly appreciate your dedication for this was a great honor for all Native peoples to be featured in such high esteem in the Nations Capitol. Niawen kowa
Ahtkwiroton Skidders
The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and the Akwesasne Cultural Center/Akwesasne Museum were recipients of a 2005 Native American/Native Hawaiian Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant to enable greater participation of Akwesasne Mohawks in the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The festival opened on June 30th and will end on July 11th.
The following people participated in the first two days of the festival through the IMLS grant: Vicky Phillips, Brenda Lafrance, Sheree Bonaparte, Ienonkwatsheriiostha Skidders, Karahkwaktha Thompson, Judy Hemlock Cole, Salli Benedict, Kawehras George, Sue Herne, Levi Herne, Logan Herne, Helen Lazore, Nancy Cook, Connie Sunday, Lucille Peters, Autumn King, Charlotte King and Margaret Lafrance.
