Cultural Traditions Workshop Birch Bark Basket Making with Lena Tickett

Lena Tickett, an Inupiaq Eskimo, grew up in the village of Kobuk, Alaska. She learned to make birch bark baskets from her mother when she was 14-years-old. It’s not easy—Lena rarely has any fingerprints left after working with the tough bark and spruce roots. She and her cultural.programs@tananachiefs.org partner Al Capsul collect the birch bark and spruce roots in the summer, and make baskets and other birch bark items all year long. In this three-day workshop, Lena & Al will teach you how to make your own woven or animal basket. We’ll provide the bark, spruce roots and other supplies, including an extra-large box of band-aids for sore fingers. You’ll need to bring your own sharp pocket knife/paring knife and an awl. On Saturday morning we’ll take a field trip along the Chena River to collect green willow sticks to strip and split and then use to sew your basket together. The class is limited to the first 15 people who pay workshop fee. If you cancel 7 days prior to the workshop, you are entitled to a full refund. Cancellation less than 7 days prior to the class will result in a $50 cancellation fee.

Cultural Traditions Workshops are made possible by Tanana Chiefs Conference in partnership with the CIRI Foundation, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, and Doyon, Limited.

Alaska Native Scholarships: There is one youth scholarship available (covering 90% of class fee) and two adult/elder scholarships available (covering 50% of class fee).

For more info or to sign up contact TCC Cultural Programs at 907-459-3741 OR culturalprograms@tananachiefs.org

$225 per Student    Limited to 15 Students

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