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Native American
Native American - Northeast and Southeast Woodland
Art ➔ 7th Generation Black Ash Basket
Identifier:
2023.15.2Description:
Artist Statement:"The 7th generation baskets are made from vinyl blinds that hang on windows. The bottom is held together with ribbon. These are synthetic materials, readily available online, in store, around your own home. The basket is woven in a traditional 8 splint bottom style that is commonly taught when basket teachings happen. It is woven with a plaited technique and embellished with different embellishments that we use commonly on our black ash baskets. There are 2 strips of black ash woven in showing the scarcity of the material due to the decimation of Black ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer.
The Emerald Ash Borer was discovered in Southeastern Michigan in 2002. It had been in Michigan for approximately 10 years and had decimated thousands of ash trees by the time it was discovered. It came from Asia on untreated pallets into the port of Detroit on a ship. EAB can decimate an entire ash stand in 3-5 years. It lays eggs which grow into larvae. The larvae tunnel their way under the bark of the tree eating the nutrients from the ash trees until they grow into an adult beetle. The beetle is a brilliant shiny green and has a copper belly. It will emerge from underneath the tree bark by boring out and continuing the cycle. EAB can survive 140 degrees, the standard heat treatment for pallets used for shipping. They can also sustain life at 36 degrees below zero for short periods of time, usually less than 3 weeks. It has devastated over 700 million ash trees on public lands in the state of Michigan alone. It has spread to over 25 states and 2 provinces in Canada and the Department of Agriculture predicts the loss of the entire ash resource of North America. Seed Collection and sharing Black ash traditions will be vital to sustain the tradition for future generations if the USDA’s prediction comes true.
This basket is to show the imminent loss of the black ash resource that we use in our baskets. It is called 7th Generation Black ash basket to show what our baskets will look like in the future if we do not act today. It is to show that while we may be able to pass on our weaving methods with other materials, we will lose 75% of the teachings passed on for thousands of years; the identification and harvesting of the tree, the pounding and processing of the materials to get to the weaving. The loss of teachings that have been passed on since before this country existed would be a significant loss.
Each generation has a responsibility to make the earth better for the future generations to survive. We need to slow and stop the spread of invasive species that is affecting much of our forests worldwide; trees that we depend on for oxygen to survive. We can collect seeds from all indigenous trees in our communities and plant them. We can reduce waste by recycling and not using plastic bottles, we can carpool, ride bicycles and electric bikes for transportation, use less packaging, be aware of our actions on high ozone days and each day think of the generations that come after you. All small steps together can lead us in a direction for the good of all leaving behind a world you actively chose to be a part in the care of."
This 7th generation basket was created by Kelly Church, a citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band (Gun Lake Tribe), using recycled vinyl window blinds, black ash splints, and black ribbon. Handwritten on the underside of the basket reads "Ottawa | Pottawatomi | Anishinabe | Kelly Church - Michigan | 7th Generation Black Ash Basket | Gun Lake Tribe | G.T.B. Descendant".
Date:
2022Materials:
Vinyl Window Blinds, Black Ash, RibbonDimensions:
8" h 5.75" w 5.25" dCurrent Location Status:
Education ProgramCollection Tier:
Tier 3Source:
Museum PurchaseRelated Entity:
Kelly Church (creator)Kelly Church of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band (Gun Lake Tribe) is an Ottawa/Pottawatomi black ash basket maker, fiber artist, educator, activist, and culture keeper. After learning about the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and its destruction of black ash trees in Michigan, Church began hosting workshops to teach others to harvest black ash trees, weave baskets, and collect seeds to raise awareness of the ash tree's possible fate. As of 2022, she has taught over 1,300 people from 18 different tribes. A full biography and further information can be found on woodlandarts.com.
