At Warwick's "Founders Day" on June 1 at 21 Hathorn Road, the Library will sponsor Algonkian re-enactor and cultural historian Jennifer Lee, who will conduct a workshop on bark basket-making. Each participant will be given materials and learn the basics of making traditional Eastern Woodland baskets. The basket workshop is limited to 10 pre-registered participants and will take place from 11:00-1:00. The day also features a conical wigwam dwelling with living historian Dan Shears from 11:00-3:00, open to all.
Basket workshop is open to adults and older teens; pre-registration is required and limited to 10. A deposit of $10.00 will be collected upon registration at the Library, to be refunded after attendance; no-shows will not have deposit refunded unless they have given 24-hour advance notice so that the space can be filled from the waitlist. Participation in the workshop is open to Albert Wisner Public Library district residents only, but observers are welcome.
Ms. Lee is a widely-respected cultural history educator who portrays American Indian life of the 18th century as an Algonkian woman. She is of Narragansett ancestry, a traditional storyteller, and has appeared at hundreds of historic heritage events and educational institutions throughout the Northeast. Her website is barkbasketsbyjlee.com. Dan Shears is an enrolled member of the Nulhegan Abenaki. He has been a cultural historical educator for a number of years holding the position of men’s technology supervisor at Plimoth Plantation from 2013-2016. He is proficient at beadwork and historical reproductions in wood, birchbark, quills, and traditionally tanned hides. His work has been featured at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Connecticut, Westfield State University in Massachusetts and in collaboration with another artists on permanent display at the Grand Portage National Monument in Minnesota.
