Hi! My name is Daniel and I live in Maine with my family. We are part of a group of Native American tribes known as the Wabanaki—the People of the Dawn. Today I’m going to start learning about the old Wabanaki tradition of basketmaking from my grandmother, who is 87 years old. “You must start with a log from an ash tree,” she explains, “and then pound the log forcefully.” While she shows me, she tells me that basketmaking has been vital to the economy of many communities over the years. Not only are baskets used to transport just about everything, but they can also be sold as elaborate decorations.
“Next you separate the ash strips from the log and make them smooth. Then weaving can begin,” she says, adding that other materials are often included
“Next you separate the ash strips from the log and make them smooth. Then weaving can begin,” she says, adding that other materials are often included