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Decorated Birch Bark Baskets A Place For Baskets
There are everyday uses and ceremonial uses for the baskets that Christine makes. Many of the people who buy Christine’s baskets in shops use them to hold jewelry and small valuables or to decorate their homes. Both native and non-native people buy her baskets. Non-natives have bought or traded with native people for artistic goods for hundreds of years. Birch bark baskets have long been a popular trading item.
There is also a very special use for some of Christine’s baskets in religious
ceremonies in her community. Where Christine lives, many of the people are
members of the Native American Church. They practice a religion that combines
Christianity with aspects of traditional Native belief. Christine takes part in
devotions and she is pleased that she has been Christine feels she gets blessings from making baskets for the Native American Church. She is happy that her basket will be used in a religious service, displayed next to the Bible, eagle feather and staff. Christine explains: “Just the fact that they’re using my work to put that sacrament in for those services, I’m getting blessings from that. That really helps me, ’cause when I make that basket, I have to watch how I am. You know, I have to not swear, not get mad, or not get angry. I have to make sure that basket is the best I can make, as perfect as possibly could be. That helps me in my life to be a better person.” Christine loves making baskets out of birch bark and decorating them with porcupine quills. She loves it because the art is a link with her heritage, it connects her with the woods and its plants and animals, and it lets her use her creative imagination. Learn More! There is so much to learn about birch bark porcupine basketry. If you live near an Ojibwe reservation, contact the local art agency there or school and ask around for artists who work with birch bark and quills. You can find out in-depth information on things like birch bark biting techniques and also which kind of porcupine quills are used for specific kinds of designs. Go to Resources for Students for those links and also book suggestions!  |
For Educators: |
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“Just the fact that they’re using my work to put that sacrament in for those services, I’m getting blessings from that.” —Christine Okerlund |
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Can
a beautiful object be useful too? Yes! Think of beautifully carved wooden boxes
or graceful vases that are both useful and attractive. Ojibwe birch bark baskets
decorated with porcupine quills are ){kind=small}
asked
to make baskets to hold the sacrament. The sacrament is a cactus fruit that is
taken in much the same way as Holy Communion wafers or wine in other Christian 
