Description
North by Northeast: Wabanaki, Akwesasne Mohawk, and Tuscarora Traditional Arts is the catalogue that accompanies the travelling exhibition of the same name. The exhibition of traditional arts of the First Nations of Maine and New York states celebrates the fine craft works of contemporary Iroquois and Wabenaki artists. The book features the beadwork, basketry, woodcarving, birch bark canoe making, and quilting of over thirty-five women and men working in these media. Through their own words and colour photographs of their works as well as essays by noted Iroquois and Wabenaki scholars, the book is totally accessible to high school students, scholars, and the general public. The essay by Salli Benedict explains the enduring tradition of Akwesasne basketmakers who create functional and decorative baskets from black ash splints. She also examines the unique aspect of Akwesasne basketmaking in the work of Florence Katsitsenhawi Benedict who has created a globe basket series. The Wabenaki traditional arts are discussed in the essay by Jennifer Neptune. The Wabenaki include Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot First Nations. Theresa Secord discusses the development of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance of craftspeople. A section of the book explores the raw materials collected from basket trees as well as white birch, gray birch, and sweetgrass used in the creation of works of art. A focus section illustrates the unique aspects of pieces such as the work basket, the fish scale basket, the potato basket, the Iroquois corn-washing basket, the pack basket, fancy baskets, and the beaded Glengarry hat. The final section of the book, Passing It On, explains the methods of cultural knowledge transmission through the words and life story of Judy Cole, Lenora David, Annabelle Oakes, Delia Cook, Florence David, and Theresa Secord. This is a beautifully illustrated resource that celebrates the cultural knowledge of Iroquois and Wabenaki artists for the general reader.