Dimensions: 12 x 6 x 6"
Materials: black ash 
 
The materials for this basket were harvested and prepared by my teacher Clyde Estey from White Earth Reservation in Minnesota.  This is a precious resource because the Black Ash tree is on the Critically Endangered list due to the destruction by the Emerald Ash Borer insect.  This basket was made in the 3 day class Decorative Ash Basketry at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN.
 
Clyde Estey is a third generation basketmaker.  What was remarkable about his class was the very relaxed, slowed down pace of the class.  We spent a lot of time looking and studying our basket. There was no sense of hurry.  It was the most relaxed I have ever been making a basket, knowing there was nothing else in the world I needed to be doing but sitting in front of those materials.  
 
The symbol on the front of the basket is specific to his family of basketmakers.  The students in the class were given permission to replicate it on our own class basket.