From a Square to a Circle: Haida Basketry
Delores Churchill. Harbour, $29.95 trade paper (256p) ISBN 978-1-990776-85-4
This informative debut from Indigenous weaver Churchill delves into the culture of the native Haida people of the Canadian northwest and their traditional basketweaving techniques. She explains that in Haida society, inheritance of clan rights is passed down through the mother, chiefs are property-less supervisors of communal goods, and the concept of “yah’guudang” implores individuals to recognize and respect the interconnectedness of the world. Haida weaving connects living people with their ancestors, Churchill explains, noting that a spruce root hat collected by Spanish tradesmen in the 1770s has the same snail’s trail design as the one Churchill’s mother used on her own hats. Noting that baskets are often designed to serve specific purposes, Churchill points out that the wide “slapping berry” basket is used to collect fruit that falls as pickers “slap” branches, while the seabird egg basket is relatively small to discourage gatherers from taking too many. Churchill shares advice on harvesting materials (“Weaving with crooked roots guarantees a bumpy basket”) and details how to perform such techniques as five-weft vertical twining and four-weft herringbone, but there are no projects showing how to complete a basket from beginning to end. Though this isn’t aimed at practical application, the robust cultural context will enrich readers’ appreciation of the craft. It’s a winning celebration of an enduring tradition. (Mar.)
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Reviewed on: 01/21/2025
Genre: Lifestyle