The Wabanaki of Maine today consist of four tribes: the Micmac, Maliseet, Penobscot and Passamaquoddy. Wabanaki is a
confederacy name, formed in the late 18th century as a preventative measure against warring groups, and to ensure peaceful
relations. Wabanaki is interpreted as “People of the Dawnland”, first light, or rising sun. Maine is the eastern most point on the
east coast of the United States.
For centuries the Wabanaki people have passed on their cultural heritage through their basketry. Before recorded history,
woodsplint and birchbark baskets were made for utilitarian use and trade purposes. Splint baskets made of brown ash and
sweetgrass from saltwater marshes in Maine eventually became a means of economic and cultural survival, particularly in the
nineteenth century, right through the turn of the century of the Victorian era. This was a time of great deprivation for the
Wabanaki people, living on reservations, with limited land to hunt and fish and becoming more dependent upon the European
economy and trade goods to feed their families. Economic survival prompted the creative production of fancy baskets for sale to
local and tourist markets.
Highly adaptable, creative and mobile as a culture, Passamaquoddy weavers began to market and sell “fancy baskets” to appeal
to the collectors and Victorian tourist trade that began to flourish at the turn of the century along coastal waters. Many
basketmakers traveled to coastal areas in the summer and set up rough camps just outside the seaside resorts such as Bar Harbor
and Poland Springs, Maine where affluent Victorians began to take up summer residence.
This summer trade market began to decline by the 1930’s and gradually the economy in basketmaking was replaced by other
employment sources. Sales to summer tourists on the reservations and local markets continued on a smaller scale, but by 1990
the basketmaking tradition was practiced by very few weavers. The labor intensive work of making baskets, along with low
prices being paid did not attract many younger people in the tribes to learn or practice the art as a livelihood.
The value and recognition of Passamaquoddy basketmaking as a high quality traditional art has risen over the last 16 years. Mary
Mitchell Gabriel, Passamaquoddy basketmaker, was honored in 1992 by the State of Maine Arts Commission with an Individual
Artist Fellowship. In 1994, Mary was awarded a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the
Arts for her extraordinary craftsmanship in basketmaking.
Additionally, Clara Keezer, another Passamaquoddy basketmaker of distinction and outstanding quality was awarded the same
awards by the Maine Arts Commission and in 2002 the National Endowment for the Arts award.
Both of these master basketmakers were founding members of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance which the State of Maine
Arts Commission helped to form in 1993 with the introduction of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program. The
basketmakers work with the Alliance, coupled with State and National recognition have helped to keep this living tradition alive
and well.
As a valued heritage artform, Passamaquoddy baskets now command a price that more closely reflects the time, labor, natural
materials and traditional skills that go into each basket and their inherent beauty attracts buyers from all over the world. The
market continues to expand as Native art and basket enthusiasts continue to purchase baskets for their collections.
Although “fancy” basketmaking began as a means of economic survival to suit the Victorian trade market, it has evolved to
become a nationally recognized collectible art form. Passamaquoddy basketweavers today continue to carry on this traditional art
to express their living culture in much the same way as their ancestors before them.
Visit these websites for additional reading materials on the history of Wabanaki basketmaking:
Enjoy!
Deborah Gabriel Brooks
confederacy name, formed in the late 18th century as a preventative measure against warring groups, and to ensure peaceful
relations. Wabanaki is interpreted as “People of the Dawnland”, first light, or rising sun. Maine is the eastern most point on the
east coast of the United States.
For centuries the Wabanaki people have passed on their cultural heritage through their basketry. Before recorded history,
woodsplint and birchbark baskets were made for utilitarian use and trade purposes. Splint baskets made of brown ash and
sweetgrass from saltwater marshes in Maine eventually became a means of economic and cultural survival, particularly in the
nineteenth century, right through the turn of the century of the Victorian era. This was a time of great deprivation for the
Wabanaki people, living on reservations, with limited land to hunt and fish and becoming more dependent upon the European
economy and trade goods to feed their families. Economic survival prompted the creative production of fancy baskets for sale to
local and tourist markets.
Highly adaptable, creative and mobile as a culture, Passamaquoddy weavers began to market and sell “fancy baskets” to appeal
to the collectors and Victorian tourist trade that began to flourish at the turn of the century along coastal waters. Many
basketmakers traveled to coastal areas in the summer and set up rough camps just outside the seaside resorts such as Bar Harbor
and Poland Springs, Maine where affluent Victorians began to take up summer residence.
This summer trade market began to decline by the 1930’s and gradually the economy in basketmaking was replaced by other
employment sources. Sales to summer tourists on the reservations and local markets continued on a smaller scale, but by 1990
the basketmaking tradition was practiced by very few weavers. The labor intensive work of making baskets, along with low
prices being paid did not attract many younger people in the tribes to learn or practice the art as a livelihood.
The value and recognition of Passamaquoddy basketmaking as a high quality traditional art has risen over the last 16 years. Mary
Mitchell Gabriel, Passamaquoddy basketmaker, was honored in 1992 by the State of Maine Arts Commission with an Individual
Artist Fellowship. In 1994, Mary was awarded a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the
Arts for her extraordinary craftsmanship in basketmaking.
Additionally, Clara Keezer, another Passamaquoddy basketmaker of distinction and outstanding quality was awarded the same
awards by the Maine Arts Commission and in 2002 the National Endowment for the Arts award.
Both of these master basketmakers were founding members of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance which the State of Maine
Arts Commission helped to form in 1993 with the introduction of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program. The
basketmakers work with the Alliance, coupled with State and National recognition have helped to keep this living tradition alive
and well.
As a valued heritage artform, Passamaquoddy baskets now command a price that more closely reflects the time, labor, natural
materials and traditional skills that go into each basket and their inherent beauty attracts buyers from all over the world. The
market continues to expand as Native art and basket enthusiasts continue to purchase baskets for their collections.
Although “fancy” basketmaking began as a means of economic survival to suit the Victorian trade market, it has evolved to
become a nationally recognized collectible art form. Passamaquoddy basketweavers today continue to carry on this traditional art
to express their living culture in much the same way as their ancestors before them.
Visit these websites for additional reading materials on the history of Wabanaki basketmaking:
Enjoy!
Deborah Gabriel Brooks
1994 NEA Fellowship Award to Mary Mitchell Gabriel
2002 NEA Fellowship Award to Clara Keezer
Hudson Museum, University of Maine
US National Park Service on Basketry
Maine Arts Commission on Mary Mitchell Gabriel
MIBA
Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME
2002 NEA Fellowship Award to Clara Keezer
Hudson Museum, University of Maine
US National Park Service on Basketry
Maine Arts Commission on Mary Mitchell Gabriel
MIBA
Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME
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| SWEETGRASS Maine Indian Baskets Passamaquoddy Native American Brown Ash Splint Basketry By Passamaquoddy Weaver, Deborah Gabriel Brooks |
| HISTORY of Maine Indian Passamaquoddy Basketmaking |
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 |