GROUP BEGINNINGS: Over the past few years
a number of Native American women representing 6
tribes in Oklahoma asked me for information about
weaving their tribal baskets. Of the Oklahoma
Indians, only Cherokees participate in the annual
Red Earth Indian Arts show. After participating in
the Philbrook market place in March and also
visiting with staff of the Red River Museum in
Idabel, Oklahoma, I was more aware of the urgency
to teach basketry of the Southeast Indians removed
to Oklahoma.
At the Philbrook market place, during the exhibit
Woven Worlds, only Cherokee basket weavers were
represented in Oklahoma.
I invited several interested people to my home,
June 16, 2001, to discuss goals to preserve the
basketry culture of the Oklahoma Indians. There
were ten tribal members and including two pre teens
all of the 5 Civilized Tribes were represented.
Projects: A series of food preparation baskets
used by all southeastern tribes.
Summer 2001 project: Corn holder or corn
catcher
Winter 2001 project: Corn sifter or sieve
Spring 2002 project: Winnowing basket
Summer 2002 - demonstrations using food
preparation baskets
Ongoing: Learning SE Indian designs and weaving
mats.
Weaving Days – Fall and Winter: Weekday evening
once a month. Saturday or Sunday afternoon every 3
months in tribal areas.
Basketweaving Guild of Oklahoma: Every other month
on the 2nd Saturday at the Oklahoma City National
Cowboy Hall of Fame. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Bring your ONAB project to weave or learn something
new from a guild member. Call me at 478 7835 for
details.
Field trips for cultural research: Weekends/Friday
or Monday - Frequency: every 3 months or more often
depending on group interest. You are encouraged to
schedule a field trip to your tribal museum for
this group.
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WADO:
Sara Greensfelder, founder of CIBA, responded
immediately and in detail to my many questions
about forming a basketweavers association.
Many professional Oklahomans have offered
insights and encouragement including Dr. Shelby
Tisdale, Philbrook Museum of Art; John Elder,
Director, Red Earth, Inc; Dr. Clara Reekie, Five
Civilized Tribes Museum; and Henry Moy, Museum of
the Red River. Thanks to Julie Scott, Creek and
Kelley Lunsford, Chickasaw, for asking me to teach
them their tribal baskets. Marcia Balleweg,
president and founder of the Basketweavers Guild of
Oklahoma has talked to me for hours about
organizing this group and as editor of Over and
Under Across Oklahoma newsletter has written about
our activities. Wanda Nobbe, owner of Mountain View
Weavery, has included my basket classes in her
Spinning insert of the Handweavers League of
Oklahoma. Barbara Hair and Beth Smathers in the
Tulsa area have traveled to our meetings to offer
support and basket knowledge. Jackie Carlson of
Norton Shores, Michigan has given months of her
time offering support in the way of patterns,
advice and materials.
And finally I give thanks to all the rest of the
weavers who have met together this summer to weave
or support our goals.
To stay informed and involved in the Indian
basketweaving group, I encourage you to become a
member or renew your membership in the
Basketweavers Guild of Oklahoma and organizations
mentioned above that support these goals.
Peggy Sanders Brennan: pbweave@aol.com PO BOX
5404, Edmond, OK 73083-5404 405 478 7835
Art Shows for Non Tribal
Members:
If you are one of the many Native Americans who
want to show your art but do not have a tribal
membership, check out these shows and
organizations:
114 S. Main Street, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 74012
Phone: 918-259-1772
American Indian Cultural Center "Gathering of
Cultures" show. Contact Raegan King, Director,
806-359-8276
The Indian Territory Arts and Humanities
Council Art Gallery
The Indian Territory Gallery was established by
the INDIAN TERRITORY ARTS & HUMANITIES COUNCIL,
(ITAHC), a federally recognized non profit
organization, with the goal of providing native
artists a venue to showcase their work and stem the
tide of artists literally packing up their easels
and leaving the area to seek more viable venues for
their art. The list of artists who frequently
exhibit in the Gallery reads like the Who's Who of
Native American and contemporary artists. Many of
our artists are world renown and visiting the
Gallery is a truly uplifting, enjoyable and
educational experience. Web
site:http://indianterritorygallery.com. This
organization has a fall art show in Broken Arrow,
OK.
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