ABOUT THE WEAVER: Deborah Gabriel Brooks
Born on the Passamaquoddy reservation at Indian Township in Maine, Deborah Gabriel Brooks grew up in a
basketmaking family of many generations, watching her mother, grandmother, aunts and other relatives weave
the brown ash splint and sweetgrass basketry that has become a highly acclaimed traditional art for the
Passamaquoddy tribe.
The evolution of making and selling “fancy” baskets to the coastal tourist trade began to flourish in the late 19th
century and the traditional preparation and weaving continues today, as Deborah uses the same blocks, molds,
equipment and tools to shape her baskets that have been passed down to her from many earlier family
generations.
Deborah received her B.S. Degree in Human Development from the University of Maine in Orono, Maine. Her
native art background includes demonstrations and teaching of basketmaking, as well as teaching the cultural
history of Passamaquoddy basketmaking.
She has worked for the Hudson Museum at the University of Maine as the Manager for the Native Art Shop,
buying and selling baskets and has curated special exhibits, including one at the Blaine House Governor’s
Mansion in Augusta, Maine. She worked for the Downeast Heritage Museum in Calais, Maine as a
Passamaquoddy cultural history presenter, teaching about the history of Passamaquoddy basketmaking. For the
Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine, Deborah was featured in a basketmaking video that shows the
construction, from start to finish, of one of her sewing baskets with sweetgrass braid and frog handle. She has
participated in many basketmaking shows and demonstrations over the years.
In 1994, Deborah’s mother, Mary Mitchell Gabriel, received the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts
Award for her outstanding and high quality basketry. Mary’s achievement helped to raise awareness at an
international level of the exquisite quality of Passamaquoddy basketry at a time when the heritage art of this
tribe was not well known. Deborah’s mother became an important mentor and teacher for her as Deborah
continued to learn the professional construction, design and production of Passamaquoddy basketry.
Deborah has been a freelance Native art consultant since 1997, with her Native art business specializing in
traditional Passamaquoddy brown ash splint and sweetgrass basketry. She continues to be an active advocate for
educating the public about Passamaquoddy cultural history and basketmaking, through shows, demonstrations
and public presentations.
Today, Deborah lives and works in Phoenix, Arizona near her two talented daughters and grandson and
continues to weave as a contemporary basketmaker in traditional styles that incorporate rich, new designs that
are timeless in their expression. She is well known in the collectible market for her high quality traditional
sweetgrass braid sewing flats, collar baskets, bowls and workbaskets. The artistic and subtle use of braid and/or
color is an important feature of her work.
As a Native artist from a talented family, Deborah continues to keep the rich traditions of the Passamaquoddy
people alive with this heritage art form.
Born on the Passamaquoddy reservation at Indian Township in Maine, Deborah Gabriel Brooks grew up in a
basketmaking family of many generations, watching her mother, grandmother, aunts and other relatives weave
the brown ash splint and sweetgrass basketry that has become a highly acclaimed traditional art for the
Passamaquoddy tribe.
The evolution of making and selling “fancy” baskets to the coastal tourist trade began to flourish in the late 19th
century and the traditional preparation and weaving continues today, as Deborah uses the same blocks, molds,
equipment and tools to shape her baskets that have been passed down to her from many earlier family
generations.
Deborah received her B.S. Degree in Human Development from the University of Maine in Orono, Maine. Her
native art background includes demonstrations and teaching of basketmaking, as well as teaching the cultural
history of Passamaquoddy basketmaking.
She has worked for the Hudson Museum at the University of Maine as the Manager for the Native Art Shop,
buying and selling baskets and has curated special exhibits, including one at the Blaine House Governor’s
Mansion in Augusta, Maine. She worked for the Downeast Heritage Museum in Calais, Maine as a
Passamaquoddy cultural history presenter, teaching about the history of Passamaquoddy basketmaking. For the
Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine, Deborah was featured in a basketmaking video that shows the
construction, from start to finish, of one of her sewing baskets with sweetgrass braid and frog handle. She has
participated in many basketmaking shows and demonstrations over the years.
In 1994, Deborah’s mother, Mary Mitchell Gabriel, received the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts
Award for her outstanding and high quality basketry. Mary’s achievement helped to raise awareness at an
international level of the exquisite quality of Passamaquoddy basketry at a time when the heritage art of this
tribe was not well known. Deborah’s mother became an important mentor and teacher for her as Deborah
continued to learn the professional construction, design and production of Passamaquoddy basketry.
Deborah has been a freelance Native art consultant since 1997, with her Native art business specializing in
traditional Passamaquoddy brown ash splint and sweetgrass basketry. She continues to be an active advocate for
educating the public about Passamaquoddy cultural history and basketmaking, through shows, demonstrations
and public presentations.
Today, Deborah lives and works in Phoenix, Arizona near her two talented daughters and grandson and
continues to weave as a contemporary basketmaker in traditional styles that incorporate rich, new designs that
are timeless in their expression. She is well known in the collectible market for her high quality traditional
sweetgrass braid sewing flats, collar baskets, bowls and workbaskets. The artistic and subtle use of braid and/or
color is an important feature of her work.
As a Native artist from a talented family, Deborah continues to keep the rich traditions of the Passamaquoddy
people alive with this heritage art form.
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| SWEETGRASS Maine Indian Baskets Passamaquoddy Native American Brown Ash Splint Basketry By Passamaquoddy Weaver, Deborah Gabriel Brooks |
Deborah Brooks, Passamaquoddy Weaver Sweetgrass Basketry Phoenix, AZ Phone: 480-861-2396 Fax: 915-242-1039 Email: info@sweetgrassbasketry.org For orders: orders@sweetgrassbasketry.org |