Passing on the art of Kanien'kehá:ka basketry, one lesson at a time

Ka’nhehsí:io Deer

Chelsea Phillips learned how to make traditional Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) baskets three years ago, and now is teaching others in her community.

"It's part of our culture, and part of our roles and re‐ sponsibilities, there's certain baskets that go along with that," said Phillips, who is from Kahnawà:ke, south of Montreal.

"I want to incorporate the teachings of the baskets so it keeps our culture alive."

Phillips is teaching a fourweek basket-making class at the Kahnawà:ke Youth Center as one of the many activities taking place throughout the community's annual Cultural Awareness Month.

Participants are learning how to weave a small round fancy basket out of black ash splints and sweetgrass.

"I've always been inter‐ ested in learning about the history of basket making in our community, because it's something that I didn't really grow up with," said Katsi't‐ sanó:ron McGregor, one of the participants.

She said the experience has been fun so far.

"I am excited. I've been working diligently. I am sur‐ prised it came out as well as it did," said McGregor.

Ash trees under threat

Different styles of baskets are used for utility as well as for ceremonies. They're made from ash logs that are pounded and split into thin strips. The splints are soaked in water to make them easier to bend during weaving.

"It's really important to carry on the cultural compo‐ nent but also the technique of it," said Phillips.

Black ash trees are under threat in the region as a re‐ sult of the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that is killing ash trees across North America. The beetle was detected in Kahnawà:ke in 2015, and remains a con‐ cern to local basket makers.

"I don't know how long it'll carry on for…. I'm continuing to teach for as long as I can have the splints for," said Phillips.

"Teaching is the really gratifying part…. You're teaching a basket but some‐ times it comes out different for everyone because they can put their own touch into it. I love it all."

Keeping knowledge alive

Phillips learned how to make ash baskets from her mentor Richard Nolan. Other Kanien'kehá:ka communities like Akwesasne are wellknown for their long lines of basket makers, but Nolan is one of the few in Kah‐ nawà:ke. He has been teach‐ ing others the craft for the last 15 years.

"I think it's really impor‐ tant to carry it on. Akwesasne has so many basket makers and they're really amazing, so I want our community to grow in that area of bas‐ ketry," said Phillips.

Nolan, who was in atten‐ dance for the class, said he appreciates that Phillips has taken on teaching others.

"It makes me feel great knowing that it is still going to be kept alive," he said.

"I know once I'm gone, she's going to keep it going, and hopefully someone takes an interest in asking her, show me everything you know and just to keep it going like that."

WATCH: The delicate art of basket-making