Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance and The Hudson Museum Present

Molly Neptune Parker: Passamaquoddy Master Basketmaker

Molly Neptune Parker, Passamaquoddy, a Master Basketmaker, 2012 National Heritage Fellow (National Endowment for the Arts), and Keeper of the Tradition, demonstrates parts of the process of basketmaking.

View Molly Neptune Parker: Passamaquoddy Master Basketmaker video

Eldon Hanning: Mi’kmaq Ash Harvest

Eldon Hanning, Mi’kmaq, demonstrates the harvest of brown ash to create splints for basketmaking.  He also talks about threats to the brown ash from the changing pattern of land use and the Emerald Ash Borer.

View Eldon Hanning: Mi’kmaq Ash Harvest video

Eldon Hanning: Mi’kmaq Ash Pounding

Eldon Hanning, Mi’kmaq, demonstrates the process of pounding brown ash to create splints for basketmaking.

View Eldon Hanning: Mi’kmaq Ash Pounding video

Dianne Apt: Sweet Grass Braiding (November 15, 1942 – September 2, 2019)

Dianne Apt, Passamaquoddy, demonstrates the process of harvesting and braiding sweetgrass for use in basketmaking.

View Dianne Apt: Sweet Grass Braiding video

Richard Keezer: Passamaquoddy Wood Carver

Richard Keezer, Passamaquoddy, talks about carving traditions in his community.

View Richard Keezer: Passamaquoddy Wood Carver video

Stan Neptune: Penobscot Wood Carver

Stan Neptune, Penobscot, demonstrates the harvest of gray birch and poplar saplings to make root clubs.

View Stan Neptune: Penobscot Wood Carver video

Joe “Hugga” Dana: Penobscot Wood Carver

Joe “Hugga” Dana, Penobscot, demonstrates the carving of walking sticks and snow snakes.

View Joe “Hugga” Dana: Penobscot Wood Carver video

Fred Tomah: Maliseet Basketmaker (May 28, 1951 – November 14, 2018)

Fred Tomah, Maliseet, demonstrates the process of making baskets and talks about taking the art form in a new direction.

View Fred Tomah: Maliseet Basketmaker video

Jeremy Frey & Ganessa Bryant: Carriers of Culture

Jeremy Frey, Passamaquoddy, and Ganessa Bryant, Penobscot, are basketmakers who discuss how they learned to make baskets, some of their influences, and their concern for the future of the tradition.

View Jeremy Frey & Ganessa Bryant: Carriers of Culture video

Clara Keezer: National Heritage Fellow (August 3, 1930 – August 2, 2016)

Clara Keezer, Passamaquoddy, a 2002 National Heritage Fellow (National Endowment for the Arts), talks about her history as a basketmaker, where she learned new styles, and where ideas came from to create new baskets.

View Clara Keezer: National Heritage Fellow video

Caron Shay with Briana Randall: Passing on the Tradition

Caron Shay and her Granddaughter Briana Randall, Penobscot, talk about teaching basketmaking from one generation to the next .

View Caron Shay with Briana Randall: Passing on the Tradition video

Mary Sanipass: Mi’kmaq Master Basketmaker

Mary Sanipass, Mi’kmaq, talks about the history of making traditional Mi’kmaq basket forms, such as the potato basket, within her family.

View Mary Sanipass: Mi’kmaq Master Basketmaker video

David Moses Bridges: Passamaquoddy Birchbark Artist (May 17, 1962 – January 20, 2017)

David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy, talks about harvesting birchbark and gathering spruce root for canoe making and other birchbark art forms.

View David Moses Bridges: Passamaquoddy Birchbark Artist video

ssipsis: Artist, Poet, and Author (June 10, 1941 – October 27, 2015)

ssipsis, Penobscot, discusses the process of gathering, storing, and using birchbark.

View ssipsis: Artist, Poet and Author video

Jennifer Sapiel Neptune: Penobscot Beadworker

Jennifer Sapiel Neptune, Penobscot, a basketmaker and beadworker who discusses bringing back some of the lost artifacts of traditional beadworking.  This video focuses on her work to revive Penobscot beadworking traditions.

View Jennifer Sapiel Neptune: Penobscot Beadworker video

Theresa Secord: Penobscot Basketmaker and Executive Director of MIBA

Theresa Secord, Penobscot, is a 2016 National Heritage Fellow (National Endowment for the Arts), basketmaker, and former Executive Director of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance. She discusses MIBA’s role and their mission to keep the brown ash and sweetgrass traditions alive for future generations.

View Theresa Secord: Penobscot Basketmaker and Executive Director of MIBA video

The Elders Speak

The Elders Speak features Ted Mitchell and Arnold Neptune, both Penobscot, and Joseph “Cozy” Nicholas, Passamaquoddy, talking about changes within their community over the last 75 years.

View The Elders Speak video

Barry Dana: Penobscot Birchbark Artist

Barry Dana, Penobscot, creates a birchbark wigwam for the Hudson Museum and talks about these traditions within his community.

View Barry Dana: Penobscot Birchbark Artist video