NCGLNAC Newsletter – March 2003

GREAT LAKES NATIVE AMERICAN ARTS AND CRAFTS WORKSHOPS AT THE INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

• The Impact of the Fur Trade on Native Peoples, Lifeways and Culture. Robin McBride Scott, of Cherokee descent from New Castle, Indiana, will cover many aspects of the Fur Trade that effected lifeways, culture, tribal relations and the traditional roles of men and women. Robin brings her extensive collection of traditional Native and Fur Trade items to help students get a hands-on feel of the lives of Native Peoples of that time period and how dramatic an impact the Fur Trade had on their everyday lives. Robin has been a consultant and educator for cultural centers, Native American organizations and educational exhibitions, including the Indiana Historical Society, Indiana State Museum and the Eiteljorg. Supply fee: $5.
• Black Ash Baskets. Chris Rapp Morseau, Pokagon Potawatomi, is from North Liberty, Indiana. She is at least a 5th generation black ash basketmaker and learned from her grandmother Agnes Rapp, mother Margaret Rapp and aunt Judy Augusta. Black ash is the premium basket weaving material for Great Lakes peoples. Students will learn the techniques for cutting, splitting and shaving the native black ash and then weave a basket from the hand cut, hand split and shaved black ash they have prepared. Students need to bring a pencil, heavy sharp knife (a big pocketknife works best), heavy scissors, and a ruler. Class limit is 15 students. Supply fee: $30.
• Great Lakes Porcupine Quilled Knife Sheath. Bonita Bent-Nelson, from Monterey, Indiana, is of Cherokee descent. She learned in the old traditions from the late Cherokee elder, Ganda-Gija-I. Students will construct a small knife sheath from brain-tanned leather, learn several traditional Great Lakes style stitches for porcupine quills and decorate their knife sheath with the quills. Bonita will furnish everything needed, except the knife. If you have a small knife, bring it. Bonita will have a few small handmade knives to purchase if you don’t have one. Class is limited to 15 students. Supply fee: $25.
• Traditional 1700’s Seneca Raised Beadwork. Susan Snow, Seneca, was raised in New York, but now lives in Peoria, Illinois. Sue learned storytelling and beadwork from her grandmother, Virginia Snow of the Turtle Clan Seneca and she helped Sue make her first Seneca storyboard skirt. This beautiful floral beadwork will be done on brain-tanned leather and felt and can be used as a hairpiece or purse flap. Students will use beads, although it can also be done with moose or horse hair that has been dyed. Students need to bring scissors and beeswax. Class limit is 15 students. Sue will furnish everything else needed for a supply fee of $20.
• Traditional Miami Ribbonwork. Scott Shoemaker, Meshingomesia Band Miami of Indiana, comes from Chicago. He is a well-known artist who has taught or presented on Miami ribbonwork to many organizations and museums for several years. He recently created a pair of Miami ribbonwork moccasins for the exhibit “Mihtohseenionki: The People’s Place” at the Eiteljorg and is also featured at the Indiana Historical Society. Students will leave with an understanding of the history and design possibilities of ribbonwork, especially among the Miami people, and the fundamentals for creating their own ribbonwork pieces. Students need to bring a pencil, eraser, colored pencils or markers, a ruler, small sharp scissors, beeswax, and Scotch tape. Bring pinking shears if you have them. Class limit: 10. Everything else is provided for a supply fee of $15.
• Great Lakes Fingerweaving. George Wieske from Royal Oak, Michigan, is a nationally-known expert in the nearly lost art of fingerweaving, that is, weaving yarn into intricate patterns without a loom. A weaver for nearly 25 years, George concentrates most of his teaching on pieces originally done by the French (Quebec) for the English, French and American traders. Students will learn basic fingerweaving in the barred and diagonal patterns and how to combine them. Time permitting, the arrowhead and diamond patterns will also be learned. Class limit is 10 students. George will supply everything needed for supply fee of $10.

Guest Speaker for the Saturday Evening Program is Dr. Elizabeth Glenn, Professor of Anthropology Emerita, Ball State University. Dr. Glenn is one of the most prominent experts on the Fur Trade. She is nationally known for her teaching and research on ethnohistory of Great Lakes Nations. The title of her presentation is “Have We Got a Deal For You!” Fur Trade: Opportunity, Reciprocity or Exploitation. Dr. Glenn’s presentation will begin at 7 p.m. following the optional Saturday evening dinner in the IHS Boardroom. There is no additional charge for this program and it is open to the public.

The National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture (NCGLNAC) and the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) will host the Spring 2003 workshops at the beautiful, new Indiana History Center which will explore the arts, crafts, and history of Great Lakes Native Americans through hands-on workshops and presentations by Native American tradition bearers, talented artisans and experts on Native American culture. The workshop begins Friday, March 28 from 6 – 8 p.m. with an informal meal and gathering. Classes begin Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and continue Sunday, March 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Welcome Circle will be 9 a.m. Saturday and Closing Circle 1 p.m. Sunday. Participants may choose from a hands-on session on making a black ash basket, constructing a small knife sheath from brain-tanned leather and decorating it with porcupine quills, 1700’s traditional Seneca beadwork, traditional Miami ribbonwork, fingerweaving, or a presentation on the fur trade’s impact on Native American culture. Class sizes are limited and each class participant (minimum age 12) will pay a supply fee directly to the class tradition bearer (instructor). Saturday evening’s special event at 7 p.m. will be an historical presentation on the Fur Trade. There is no additional charge for the Saturday evening program and it is open to the public.

The workshop registration fee is $50 per person which includes the Friday evening welcome meal and tradition bearer honorariums. The catered Saturday evening meal is optional at $14 per person, including tax and gratuities. Registration and meal reservations must be received by the Indiana Historical Society by March 20. Saturday lunch may be at the IHS Starlight Terrace Café (reasonable and very good) or at any number of restaurants within 10 – 15 minutes driving time, made easier by the 1 ½ hour lunch break. A limited number of $50 scholarships are available from NCGLNAC for Native Americans. Request a scholarship application from Karen Cochrane at 765-566-2334 or [email protected] or 5591 East Woodland Way, Bringhurst, IN 46918. Deadline: March 20.

Overnight accommodations for March 28 and 29 have been secured by the Indiana Historical Society at the Clarion Inn and Suites Northwest, 7001 Corporate Drive, Indianapolis, 317-298-3700, about a 10 minute drive from downtown. All rates are for 1 to 4 people per room. Standard rooms are $60 per night and mini-suites are $63 per night, both including a deluxe continental breakfast. IHS must be mentioned when making reservations and rooms will be held only until March 3. After that date, the normal rate of $87 to $95 will apply.

For more information contact the IHS Welcome Center at 317-232-1882 where online or phone registrations can be made or their website www.indianahistory.org or NCGLNAC Workshop Co-chairs Karen Cochrane (765-566-2334) at [email protected] or Kay Neumayr (765-572-2574) or [email protected] or www.ncglnac.org.