Giizhik, the northern White Cedar, has been growing on Anishinaabe lands for millenia. From bark to wood to needles, it has many traditional uses. Join cultural practitioner Greg Biskakone Johnson of Lac du Flambeau for three days of learning all about giizhikag. The class will head into the early summer forest where they will explore shady and cool cedar-rich areas and watch a demonstration of how cedar bark is harvested. Students will learn about processing, cutting, and dyeing the material. As a group, they will weave a cedar mat, which traditionally lined the floor of lodges, making it more comfortable for sitting and working. As time allows, they will weave small placemats, using the same techniques as those required for larger cedar mats. The emphasis of this course will be a holistic view of northern white cedar—its many gifts, its cultural significance and its threatened future as the climate warms. This is a unique opportunity to immerse in a craft process and cultural experience intimately tied to the northern forest and the Anishinaabe people. 

Required Tools

• We will be working outdoors and going into the woods. Please dress comfortably to work outdoors in potentially buggy wet conditions. This might include rain gear, layers, sun protection, muck boots, head nets, leather gloves. Remember that it’s often much cooler near Lake Superior, so expect temperatures to vary from 50-70 degrees depending on our location.
• Daily lunch, water bottle, and snacks are recommended.  

Optional Tools

• Heavy duty scissors 
• Utility knife