HOULTON, Maine – Native American traditional practices were on full display May, 23, at the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians’ Community Center during a special fiber-making workshop.
Hosted by the Tribe, in partnership with the Southern Research Station of the Maine Forest Service, a small group of six individuals learned how to make fiber and cordage from native plants, explained Michelle Baumflek, research biologist/acting project leader and tribal liaison for the Southern Research Station of the Maine Forest Service.
She said the project was part of a cultural wetlands project her organization was working on with HBMI Natural Resources. The session was open to any individual either with knowledge of gathering, as well as those who were interested in learning more about the process.
“We have been doing gatherings based on various plants we would like to see collected,” explained Isaac St. John, HBMI tribal historic preservation officer. “Last year, we did a workshop with fiddleheads and have done ash gathering sessions.”
Using raspberry and blackberry brambles, forested on plots of Tribal Lands, participants painstakingly removed the outer layer of bark from the brambles by first pounding, and then carefully peeling the bark away.
Once the sinewy outer bark has been collected, it was then twisted together to form a long strand of lashing that could be used for such things as holding bundles of wood together or as a support for adhering birch bark to a frame in hut construction.
“We try to focus on plants that grow within our community for these sessions,” St. John said. “We will also do something in the fall for that season.”
