where to start?

[Tom]

I have been looking at where to begin with a revival of basket traditions, and since that ancient art form is full of culture I wonder where to start when it comes to reviving clothing and the rest of the cultural materials.
I had seen a late 1890's image of an old man in traditional plains dress, feathers and all, with his grandson sitting next to him in then modern white mans clothing. The differences were stricking and some what sad to see, but a new way crossed America and the old let go for the new.
This was the case for the tribes in VA and Nc during the late 1700's and up to the 1840's , so where do we begin to try and revive a southern piedmont style of clothing? Does any one have any suggestions?

[Linda]

Of course, there's Sara. (The Saratown woman ca. 1623, buried in heavily beaded regalia using geometric patterns, clearly wearing something not unlike a western leather T dress.) Then there's William Byrd's description of what our ladies wore at Fort Christanna, presumably in the summertime -- he said they wore mid-thigh skirts or aprons woven from what seems to be dogbane or similar fibrous plant. He was there in 1723.

I have a feeling the old style of dress would have been abandoned earlier than 1840, much earlier. From the names that have turned up in westward states as "settlers," it seems implied that they were already dressing the part in the 18th century.

I'm very excited to see you reviving the basketry. I'll do whatever I'm able to help with that.

Did I tell you I heard from that fellow I was telling you about who's interested in river cane. He said there are two types here, a more slender variety called "switch cane" (I guess we know what they were used for) and the river cane. The switch cane grows closer to the water, the river cane grows higher up on a sunny bank. He's seen it in Winston Salem and Raleigh. He's also seen some off of Hwy 460 on the way to VA beach, east of Petersburg. He also mentioned something about Fort Lee. He said he'll send me some shoots.

[lynellarainhawk]

I am totally excited about the basketry too. I really am dying to see some designs.

Our museums in Denver, Colorado have an abundant collection of artifacts from all over. Wouldn't there be stuff like that out east there?

Well, anyway, let me know what I can do to help. Love & Light, Lynella.

[Linda]

I contacted the archeologist who's been excavating Fort Christanna and he asked somebody else he knows, but neither of them know of any archeological evidence regarding the rims of Tutelo basekts. A lady I know at William and Mary referred me to the National Museum of the Indian in D.C. I left a message. I'm going there next month.

I was thinking, remember that woven grass skirt you showed me from the Ashmolean? Could the pattern of weaving in that be used as a model? Or did you already tell me?

[Bill Childs]

Anyone know what kind of basket-rims the Santee made/make? Would the Santee be our shortcut to prehistory?
Bill

[Linda]

How closely related were the Santee to the Tutelo? I don't recall.

[Tom]

Hello Everyone, first the Museums in and around Denver have some very important southeastern Indian objects well worth a visit to many of them.
I'd like to see that grass skirt again Linda if there's a design in it we could adapt it to cane basketry, also making or using fibre from plants is something that I have done several times! bags and small accessories can be redone.
Iam not sure how close the Nc/ VA Santee people are to the "Tutelo Nation" (meaning all our southern Souian folks) but if there's something there I'd like to see it, that is Bill if you're refering to the VA/ Nc group.
It was thought that there was only 3 types of river cane , switch cane or arrow cane occasionally used for baskets, river cane used for baskets almost exclusively, and gigantea or long cane the best for baskets; but the Agro. folks have now found that there is several more types than we thought, and they are endemic to soil types.
There is a book coming out soon that will have a chapter on growing cane, (I'll post more on it when it comes out).
I have been looking at the splint work from the Iroquios people because there should be something there, but Iam still looking.
Once again thank you all for your replies.

[lynellarainhawk]

Hey all! I will see about getting down to Demver to the museum and see what they have. It's been 10 years since I've gone. I doubt I'd be able to get my hubby to take me cause' he's always too busy. But I'll see if one of my sisters will get me there. I don't do well driving down there. It's a mad house, so I get uptight & lost and wind up driving the wrong way on one way streets. I'll call Donna and see if she can fit me in maybe this Wed. or next. Love & Light, Lynella.