TEACHING THE SNOWBIRDS

Kwe…

I am sharing our Mi'kmaq art with the Snowbirds Group.

My sister Kathleen and I presented,  and I gave a ten minute crash course, on the process of the Mi'kmaq Traditional Spruce Root basket .

One was made by myself and Honored Patrick Gobeil  (Snowbird Team Leader) who is  holding one end of the basket in the group photo.

He also honored me with a Snowbird cap.
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The Manager was very pleased and will have this  pictured on Sunday for National Aboriginal Day, June 21, 2014 .

 This   sharing  of our culture in a respected and honest way makes my spirit feel balanced with the Creator…

Wela'lin ...

 Thank-you  Snowbirds   for flying over our land and bringing to our children happiness in this
high tech  society of today…

Pikto'l Sa'ke'j Muise..

Victor James Muis

TRADITIONAL MI'KMAQ SPRUCE BASKETS

                                                                 

The Traditional Mi'kmaq  Spruce Baskets ........( pu'taliew'l ) , in Mi'kmaq

The following is a story of my journey into learning.  It is  my story. Others can make the same journey, and then , they, too will have   a story.

The making of these baskets  is taught  through an oral tradition, and knowledge is handed down from one to another, and  thus it survives from generation to generation. 

The following is my own personal story and is not taken from any book.
These root baskets have been a part of the Bay St.George Mi'kmaq culture  for thousands of years. They were made by Mi'kmaq people and were a part of every day use in our society.

Mr. Anthony White, of St.George's ,  was an expert in this art , and should be given great recognition.

Several years ago I was inspired by doing some research  into many types of different Mi'kmaq baskets  and came across a few videos on baskets  that were made on the West coast  of Newfoundland.

Hearing others speak of a spruce root basket was further inspiration.

After speaking to several people in the area, I learned that Melvin White had one on display in the St.George's Museum.

This started me on a journey of discovery.

Now knowing that I could speak to my friend about the baskets,  I requested that he teach me the process.

He was very humble.

On the third day he left me on my own and told me that I should experiment with my own style.

He hoped to see me sharing my knowledge with others.

When I was on my third basket I knew that I had to get other artists involved, to teach  and to share  what I was taught by Melvin and my research.

Many times during life I have observed Scott Butt,  my sister's son,  who respected everything that I have done.  He is a well known carver and artist.  I have watched him carve and also make drums.

Looking at my baskets, he helped restyle them and make them presentable to the public.

His interest grew.

Scott had some knowledge which he had acquired from Danny White, a well known basket maker.  Being an artist, he would help me.

Scott made a mold to set the two first cataracts,  a word used by the family  elders.

The black ash shrub is found along the sides of boggy  or cut over areas, only in Western Newfoundland.

Whip rods is another word used,  called such because they were used to clean nets after fishing.

So the mold was set, and this was the first step of the process.

Then   Scott  and I went to find the right shrub from which I would make  the body of the baskets .

We then went to find Spruce roots , with much strength needed to retrieve from the fiber and the moss, staying a distance from the tree , so as to not damage the tree's growth.

After soaking the rods and roots in water for awhile , we then peeled the rods and roots.

Then the roots had to be split, some maybe twice.  Only the outer part of the root is used to weave the basket.

Weaving is the last step of the process.

After the cataract mold is dried and glued , it has to be tied,  one fitting over the other, making first the handle and then the basket.

Then one has to create ears, as some Mi'kmaq call them, on each side of the basket. This is what holds the ribs in place.

This was also taught to me by another artist, Marcella William, also a friend and relative of the Muise family.

Then came the drying , before putting the body/ribs of the basket together , with five rods on each side.

As I learned from Melvin, the first two at the bottom must sit as a rocker ,  lower than the heel of the basket. The other four have to be measured to form the body .

All shared our knowledge about fine tuning the Traditional West Coast  Mi'kmaq Spruce Root Baskets .

All three I honor for sharing their knowledge with me.

Now I am weaving my ninth basket , and will promote this art and share the tradition with others in our Mi'kmaq community.

The creation of a basket takes time. This is not a craft.  It is an art of the Mi'kmaq  people of Bay St.George.


Pikto'l , 

 Sa'ke'j   Muise

VICTOR  JAMES   MUISE

Composed June 15,  2014

ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED

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DREAM WEAVER

I  will have a display at the Pow Wow 2014 , on the 12th and the 13th.

Here I will demonstrate what knowledge I have acquired  about baskets during the past  two months. This knowledge came from three other artists in Western Newfoundland.

If anyone wishes to  purchase a basket after the Pow Wow, please inbox me on Face Book.  I can be found on Face Book    as Victor  Muise .

You can also email me muisevictor@gmail.com .

We can discuss the style you want, the price, and method of payment.

The price depends on size and style.

All baskets are traditional Mi'kmaq spruce root baskets.

BASKETS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AND AVAILABLE AT POW WOW 2014

Baskets,   made from spruce root ,  and traditionally handcrafted according to ancient  Mi'kmaq  techniques, will be available for purchase at the  2014 Pow Wow in Flat Bay.

At the Pow Wow I will have a display,  and  I will also sell some afterward .

During the past weeks I have been working steadily in the creation of these baskets , as  the demand for them is great.

A craftsman  always knows when  his art is ready to be released to the public.

Artist Scott Butt (see photo ) will have a booth open at the Pow Wow. Besides selling other of his artistic crafts , he will  have spruce root baskets available.

As an artist works at his craft,  his Spirit enters into each  of the creations that he gifts  to  the world.

Thus, one's art and craftsmanship can be a spiritual sharing of one's inner self.

It is hoped that  the  handcrafted baskets,  made  in the traditional Mi'kmaq  way, and imbued with  Spirit, will bring much joy to all who purchase them.

                                                    Elder Muise  , and  artist  Scott Butt

AUDREY'S QUILT

Kwe....

I have twelve sisters.

My sister Audrey put special effort into creating this.

It represents love of a  united family: 

I will always Honor the Eight Star Quilt .

And I will  hang   it on the  wall of my new cottage to honor my sister .

Pikto'l Sa'je'j Muise.

Victor James Muse Jr.4th

The above  Eight Star Quilt was created by Audrey Muise,, sister of  Elder Muise.

DREAM WEAVING !!

DREAM  WEAVING

These are my first Mi'kmaq spruce root baskets. I was taught this skill by Melvin White, for whom I have much gratitude.

I used white spruce root.

These first  two baskets , below,  have no monetary value, as they are sacred to me and  thus, not for sale..Maybe when I get 30  or 40 done then I will think about selling some.

The creation process takes a lot of time.

They can be used for anything, such as berry picking , or just for use around the house.