Jennifer Lee (Northern Narragansett Descent)
BARK BASKET MAKING
A Mokok is a Northeast woodland Native American style container made of bark, stitched with spruce roots. The bottom is rectangular; the top is round or oval. They were originally used to harvest and store food and accoutrements. In this class, you’ll learn to sew with spruce roots that you’ll prepare. If the roots are thick enough, you'll split them. An inner and outer rim is made by splitting a red willow stick bent gradually. Different stitching patterns will be shown. If you finish in time and so desire, you can embellish your basket with a collar and /or appliqué. The white pine bark baskets are easier to make than ash; they don’t require much hand strength. They smell delicious, handle like leather when wet, and dry like wood. But sometimes the pine bark beetle will find them and start eating them. You can bake them in the oven at 350 for 1/2 hour to kill the bugs. In 40 years of making them, it’s happened maybe 7 times. I have pine bark baskets that I have used for 20 years without a problem. Bark is to the Northeast woodland Tribes as Bison is to the Tribes of the Great Plains; The Lakota, Cheyanne, Osage, etc. A season for harvesting bark varies by species, weather, and growing situation.The sustainable harvesting of bark, roots, and Red Willow will be discussed.
Basket Making Workshop by Jennifer at the Tiverton Bazaar
July 26, 2025 11am-3pm
Cost $125
Join Jennifer Lee for a memorable workshop where you will learn how to make and take home a beautiful, one of a kind, functional, Bark Basket. Jennifer Lee is of Northern Narragansett descent and her baskets are a reflection of both heritage and research. Working with the bark to form a basket is a feast for the senses as you explore the bark in so many new ways. Jennifer will guide you through this process with the expertise honed from over 40 years of basket making. She has received awards from the Mohegan Wigwam Festival, Saratoga Native American Festival, and the Kearsarge Indian Museum. This is a unique experience you truly do not want to miss!
All tools will be provided, but if you’d like to bring your own, you’ll need: scissors, utility knife, needle-nose pliers, four-sided awl, bowl for water. (BRING: An apron )
Jennifer Lee grew up without knowing her Native ancestry. She has spent her adult life as an independent researcher learning the true history and culture of the Indigenous Northeast Woodlands. She's been sharing what she learns at schools, historic sites, and community events for 30 years, often by holding classes in her eastern conical wigwam. She has been a bark basket maker for 40 years and teaches bark basketry extensively, and attends as many powwows and educational events as she can. The bark, roots, and branches she works with are wild-harvested by her and her family in the Northern Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. She has received awards at the Mohegan Wigwam Festival, Saratoga Native American Festival, Kearsage Indian Museum, Deerfield Craft Show, and North Carolina Basket makers Association." Jennifer Lee has been enjoying making bark baskets for 40 years. Her interest began with the study of her Northeast woodland Native American ancestors. She teaches bark basket classes and educational programs extensively. The bark roots and branches are wild-harvested by her family in the Northern Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. She’s received awards at the Mohegan Wigwam Festival, Sarratoga Native American Festival, Kearsage Indian Museum, Deerfield Craft Show, and North Carolina Basketmakers Association. More information,