Ash trees are not just important for ecosystems. They’re also the foundation of a major Indigenous tradition of basket making. From present-day Minnesota to Maine, Native people have long used Black ash, a species that grows in northern swamps, to weave baskets and make other objects. The tree’s annual growth rings separate easily into strips, making them ideal for basketry. Traditionally, no twine, glue or other material is used.
In recent decades, artists and makers in the Midwest, New York and New England have revived ash basketry and put their unique spins on this ancient tradition. Indigenous and non-Indigenous basket-makers have created baskets for everyday use and as works of art. Several ash baskets are on display in the Smithsonian.
But like ash trees throughout North America, Black ash trees are imperiled by the emerald ash borer. The region’s cold winters have kept the ash borer at bay, but as winters warm and the insect extends its range, it is striking further and further into the heart of Black ash country. Experts predict that it will eventually wipe out the Black ash ecosystem, the largest remaining stronghold of North American ash trees.
Basket makers are grappling with this existential threat to their work and livelihoods. This page highlights ash basket makers and their work.
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April Stone
April Stone is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, based in northwest Wisconsin. When she first decided she wanted to learn basketry, she had to learn from YouTube videos because there were no practicing basket makers in her area. She’s since taught basket making to thousands of people. (Photo by April Stone)