| A Mokok is a Northeast woodland Native American style container made of bark, stitched with spruce roots. The bottom is rectangular, the top is round or oval. They were originally used to harvest and store food and accoutrements. In this class you’ll learn to sew with spruce roots that you’ll prepare. If the roots are thick enough you’ll split them. An inner and outer rim is made by splitting a red willow stick that is bent gradually. Different stitching patterns will be shown. If you Finnish in time and so desire you can embellish your basket with a collar and /or appliqué. The white pine bark baskets are easier to make than ash; they don’t require so much hand strength, They smell delicious ,handle like leather when wet and dry like wood. But sometimes the pine bark beetle will find them and start eating them. You can bake them in the oven at 350 for 1/2 hour to kill the bugs. In 40 years of making them it’s happened maybe 7 times. I have pine bark baskets that I have used for 20 years without a problem.
Bark is to the Northeast woodland Tribes as Bison is to the Tribes of the Great Plains; The Lakota, Cheyanne , Osage etc. There is a season to harvesting bark that varies by species ,weather and growing situation.The sustainable harvesting of Bark, Roots and Red Willow will be discussed.
Tools: All tools will be provided, but if you’d like to bring your own, you’ll need : Scissors, utility knife, nose plyers, four sided awl, bowl for water.
An apron is recommended
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