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.
Learn something new from a guild member.
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@yahoo.com
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