Birch Bark Baskets workshop

This workshop is organised by MERA. REGISTER HERE 

Join John Wager to learn how to make a traditional birch bark basket, approximately 6-7 inches diameter by 3.5-4 inches tall.

In this workshop participants all start with a sheet of birchbark. You’ll use spruce root to stitch it together and add a rim.

About the instructor:

My name is John Wager, I am Michi Saagiig Anishinaabe from Curve Lake First Nation.

I make and sell craft for a living along with teaching the skills I have learned along the way in workshops.

I’ve lived in Curve Lake almost all my life and I love my community.

This whole craft thing started in college almost 8 years ago, we were handed some knives, taught how to use them and then shown how to carve and coal burn a wooden spoon but I didn’t even make a spoon that year I made a wooden knife. I ended up carving my first spoon almost a year after that and then I was not able to stop. I met people and made friends/mentors along the way that helped me get to where I am today but I’m still learning.

I carve lots of spoons but I also make Baskets, Knives, Bowls, Cups, Canoe Paddles, and even some leatherwork.

www.johnswoodenware.com @johnswoodenware