It delights me to be able to show you my basket weaving art.  I use the basketweave for not just baskets, but I also use it in my regalia or traditional dress. The basketweave that I make is made from the Longleaf pine tree. 
A full-grown tree has between 8 and 18-inch long needles that turn golden in color. Longleaf pine forests once encompassed more than 90 million acres of the North American landscape. 
Today, only three percent, or 3.4 million acres, remain and, yet Longleaf pine forests represent some of the world's most biologically diverse ecosystems. The Longleaf pine ecosystem provides a critical habitat for 29 threatened and endangered species.  Those threatened and endangered species include the gopher tortoise and indigo snake. 
Longleaf pine preservation is crucial, not just for the ecosystem, however, to maintain our ancient Lenni-Lenape culture.
Our tribe, the Nanticoke Lenni Lenape here in Bridgeton, New Jersey, has made a conscientious effort to protect the Longleaf pine and its habitat on our tribal property.  Tribal members have access to the needles for ancient art form creation.
I am going to introduce a collection of basket weaving art that I have created. 
Thank you, and I am excited to share with you.
Wanishi.

Introduction

Materials

Starting

Building the rows

Stacking and Finishing

Wheaton Arts Conversation

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