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Check out the article on our buddy, Tom. Now we know why he talks so passionately about basketmaking techniques.
Arts traditions handed down through the generations
Tom Poulsen (from Fort Macleod, Alberta) is a weaver both literally and figuratively: his basketry shows an exceptional mastery of Aboriginal weaving traditions, and his practice is grounded in constant research that leads him to weave ties with other craft artists, including those in the new generation, whom he has been teaching on a regular basis. Beginning with his initiation into weaving river cane and pine needles, Tom Poulsen’s journey has made him a repository for the traditional Aboriginal art of basketry. He was recently chosen by two elders in the Blackfoot-Cherokee community in northern Georgia as the artistic heir of the legendary Fire Bringer tradition. Jerry King and his 96-year-old mother wanted to bequeath their knowledge to the Alberta artist, for they consider that his work reveals a mastery of the art similar to that of their ancestor, from 150 years ago. The almost mythical technique of the Fire Bringer is thought to be at the origins of basket-weaving, and for the rare few familiar with it, it represents a taboo, since its basic materials are cat tails, food of the alligators.
Photo: Tom Poulsen, renowned weaver from Fort Macleod, Alberta
This article can be found at http://www.canadacouncil.ca/news/newsletter/newsletter-09/2002_09_04-e.asp
[This message has been edited by Linda (edited 04-20-2002).]
What’s the Fire Bringer tradition? Are those Blackfoot Cherokee mentioned in the article related to the people in TN your family derives from? What’s this taboo about cattails and alligators?
Hey Linda , this is a nice surprize!
The “BLack foot-Cherokees” from N Ga, is a type”O”; it should be Tugalo Cherokee, these people are the descendants from the old capital that the British named “Tugalo” which is shortened from,”Owa’took wa loy i” (close enough which means fom where the ‘waters roll”!
The cattail in lower Cherokee is called “ja-roo-skee’ which means “fire bringer”! Anciently the cattails have been used as torches but also have medicinal values , when you get burned take a lower stalk of cattail and crush it between 2 stones and apply the mass to the burn. Aswell it also refers to an ancient tradition of basketry .
Cattails are literaly food of the alligators!
Ever hear of any one messing with an alligators groceries?
The taboo is rather logical in this case., but also has a cutural value aswell, when finished these small “Granny baskets” look just like the river-cane baskets but are smaller and much more fragile and are used for sewing threads etc.
All the best Tom
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