Oklahoma Native American Basketweavers

Barbara Hair

Barbara was one of the first trustees of the Oklahoma Native American Basketweavers Association. For several years she has traveled state wide to ONAB events to promote, learn and then teach how to gather and prepare materials for Native American basketweaving. She has assisted in teaching the ONAB classes since the inception of the group. In 2004, she began hosting a basketweaving gathering in her home. This small group plans to build on each technique previously learned in the classes. Barbara has successfully incorporated the goals of ONAB into her personal life.

She has studied with many teachers and is skilled in weaving baskets of all styles. Learning about Native American Basketry in order to promote and teach others is likely a result of her influence from her parents.

Barbara's creativity was influenced by her parents who always encouraged her to learn whatever she was interested in. She said "they often would embark in the same adventure themselves. Another individual that has influenced me more that she realizes is Peggy Brennan. She has been a great educator/historian and I feel very fortunate to have begun my next journey in basket weaving."
She is a self-taught basket weaver. She originally began weaving on a four harness weaving loom and then got interested in basket weaving. When she began weaving she found that she was pretty much on her own. She said "I was unable to find weavers in Oklahoma because that was before the internet and information on area weavers was difficult to obtain. I have a good collection of books, articles, and misc. information that I have collected over the years that helped me with many of the challenges of basket weaving. I love networking with other weavers because I am always learning new things or tricks of the trade. My biggest problem with basket weaving is that I usually have five or six baskets in various stages of completion!"

Learning Native American basket weaving has been most challenging to Barbara. She stated that the styles seem limitless from the various tribes and that it is so incredible that these weavers had all of their patterns and methods of weaving in their heads. Although she is not Native American, she feels she can teach the skills necessary to basket weavers who want to continue their traditions. Her intentions are only to help those that want to continue the knowledge of basket weaving. She said "For myself this is a challenge, an educational/historical venture, and I really enjoy other basket weavers."

Barbara has been basket weaving for thirty years. She has found weaving to be an activity that can require total concentration or friendly conversation. She has assisted basket weaving teachers during class instruction, but feels she could successfully teach classes on her own. She emphasized that it always is a matter of organizing the class and setting aside the block of time.

Barbara enjoys weaving the Cherokee double wall wicker baskets. She said "My most challenging basket at the moment is the double wall diagonally woven basket by Jackie Carlson. It is requiring uninterrupted time, which always seems hard to schedule. I like to use natural dyes when I can, but find that the commercial dyes hold their color longer. I also like to use natural items in my baskets because I like the added texture and character it brings to the piece. It is always a one of a kind item."

Barbara's art can be commissioned or bought directly from her. Inquiries can also be sent to this web site.

Entered by Peggy Sanders Brennan, April 20, 2005