RENEWING TRADITIONS
June - August 2006
Links Debra Smith, President Karen Scott Vice-President Peggy Brennan, Sec/Treasurer Writing a Bio Documenting Your Work Barbara Hair Creek Council House Indian Summer Festival Oklahoma Folklife Festival Annual Weavers Weekend Tulsa Fair Youth Entries ONABA 2007 Annual Meeting Karen Scott Oklahoma Basket Supply (Marcia Balleweg, owner) Summer Meadow Basketry (Debra Smith, owner) Cherokee Basketry Words Youth Awarded First Youth Basket Exhibit Sand Springs Youth Indian Cultural Program ONABA Youth Supporters ONABA Youth Teachers Red Earth Youth Entries Red Earth Youth Winner Additions since June 15 Edmond Area Youth Group To be Organized. Email ideas to ONAB Yahoo orinfo@onab.org |
Oklahoma Native American Basketweavers
The mission and purpose of the Oklahoma Native American Basketweavers Association is to preserve, promote and perpetuate traditional basketry and culture of Native American tribes through educational programs in Oklahoma |
Native American Cultural Festival’s 20th year Annual Red Earth Festival The festival began as a parade of vibrant colors and native sounds as it wound through downtown Oklahoma City on June 2, 2006. Visit the web site www.redearth.org for more information. The Festival was at the Cox Convention Center. ONABA Basketweavers at Red Earth Congratulations to DeLavon Scott who won a merit award. Peggy Brennan was at Red Earth to demonstrate basket weaving, to promote ONABA and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Sand Springs Indian Youth Enter Baskets Muscogee (Creek) Nation members Courtney Brooke Hess, Amanda Brooke Yeatman, Skyler Nicole Surber and Dakota Wolf Evans entered a basket from their first class. Red Earth Judges Honor Courtney Congratulations to Courtney Hess who won honorable mention for her entry. Her teachers for this class basket were Wahleah Walker and Denise Hoff. 40th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival June 29, 2006 - July 11, 2006 The Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Michigan State University Museum, in collaboration with Native American basketmakers' organizations across the country, will launch a multi-year, multi-faceted celebration of the rich, living Native basket traditions of North America and Hawaii. Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions Carriers of Culture, through a festival, exhibition, and other related activities will examine the ways in which Native baskets—and their makers—are literally and symbolically "carriers of culture." In the summer of 2006, approximately 80 Native American basketmakers will be featured at the 40th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Festival visitors will see master Native artists demonstrate the outstanding weaving traditions of their respective communities. They will learn about the inter-relationship of basketry to other tribal cultural knowledge associated with ceremonies, language, stories, dance, song, and foodways. Through live demonstrations, dance performances, discussion sessions, and hands-on activities, Carriers of Culture will explore how Native basketmakers have acquired and sustained their extraordinary skills and knowledge.
Documenting for ONABA Marjorie Hunt as accepted David France and Carol Parsons as liaisons for ONABA. David will be photographing and videotaping for ONABA. Carol will be writing articles about his photos and videos. Marjorie Hunt wrote to Peggy Brennan, "Having Carol and David here for documentation and to serve as a liaison and to help with your needs for your organization sounds wonderful. We look forward to welcoming them. The program will be an incredible way for people to see at a glance all the richness and diversity of Native cultures in the U.S. Best wishes, Marjorie."
Financial Help Appreciated As of this writing the liaisons are privately funded. Their meals, lodging and transportation are minimally paid by volunteers. If you are interested in donating to help with their costs , please call Peggy or another ONABA board member or officer. Or email pbweave@aol.net Checks should be mailed to ONABA, PO Box 7234, Edmond, OK 73083, with a memo on the check for Smithsonian Folklife Festival. You may specify exactly how we apply your contributions. ONABA Members and Representatives Participants solicit entries for the Carriers of Culture Programs. The festival is the first of the programs. The traveling exhibit baskets will be chosen soon for the 2007-2010 exhibit. ONABA members contributed a lot of information, financial support and support in other ways such as living plants and photos. The ONABA Yahoo Site has the information on all the contributions. Wado to all who contributed, especially by your memberships. The Smithsonian selected ONABA members, Robin McBride Scott and Peggy Brennan, and ONABA representatives, Perry and Kathy VanBuskirk to attend the festival. Louise Goings and Lucille Lossiah represent North Carolina Cherokees. Go to Smithsonian Folklife Participants for all participants' bios. For a list of all festival participants visit the Folklife Festival web page: http://www.folklife.si.edu/index.html and click on the link for Native Basketry. ONABA In the News The current issue of the American Indian Magazine has an article about the Carriers of Culture Programs. ONABA, Peggy and Robin are mentioned in the article. Become a charter member of the NMAI and receive the magazine and other benefits. The link in the first newsletter has been removed from the web site so you may not be able to view the article. ONABA will ask permission to reprint the article in the next newsletter. Visit American Indian Magazine: http://www.nmai.si.edu/ . Click on Press: http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=press August 15, students wove a plaited flat reed basket with flat reed and wicker sides. Peggy Brennan coordinated with Susanne Sanders; however, Wahleah Walker took the lead for the last two classes designing and weaving a model basket. Each student completed a basket doing a good job. Thanks also to Debbie, Wahleah's daughter for assisting.
|