A Rare and Endangered Tradition

Theresa Secord is a Penobscot basket weaver and founder of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance. She was recently named an American Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts. A lifelong Mainer, she grew up off reservation and eventually became a geologist. Theresa came to basketmaking through studying her native language as an adult; the weaving was a tactile part of the language lessons, and Theresa soon realized was more artist than linguist, and she's never turned back. Her work with the alliance has resulted in a rejuvenation of the the basketmaking tradition; the number of weavers from Wabanaki tribes has grown from a handful to scores, and it has become a viable source of income and renown for native weavers again. Recently, Theresa has stepped down from her organizing work to return to her own artistry, where she focuses on fancy basket work and on using new materials in place of the sacred and endangered Brown Ash. 

Make/Time shares conversations about craft, inspiration, and the creative process. Listen to leading makers and thinkers talk about where they came from, what they're making, and where they're going next. Make/Time is hosted by Stuart Kestenbaum and is a project of craftschools.us <http://craftschools.us/podcast.html> .

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