Black Ash is important for making traditional baskets and reflects Akwsasne’s history, culture and society on many levels.
By now most basket makers in Akwesasne know something about the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) insect that is destroying all ash trees including black ash.
The Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment (ATFE) and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) and the Akwesasne Cultural Center recently hosted a Rims and Handles class January 12 & 19, 2024 to teach community members how to make basket rims and handles. The class also provided and opportunity to talk about and gain feedback on a proposed ash harvest being planned by ATFE and SRMT.
To lessen the effect and to buy some time the ATFE and SRMT have developed plans to harvest ash trees in surrounding New York State Forests, prioritizing ash that are under immediate threat of loss due to EAB. The harvest is part of an overall plan to mitigate the effects of EAB on black ash availability for the immediate future and for the next 5-years. Managing EAB and forests is very challenging for many reasons including the magnitude or scope of the problem, being widespread across the region as are the forests, limited resources (people and money) and limited time.
The ATFE, SRMT and Cultural Center need more input and guidance from the community on how best to manage harvested black ash logs in addition to identifying ways to safely store logs and splints, reserving material for at least 5-years. Ash logs are soon to be selectively harvested and will be made available to the community for immediate use and storage.
This project is at the very beginning and as it moves forward community input is needed to identify ways for getting ash logs into the community in ways that are equitable and fair. Plans also need to be made for long-term storage, 5-years or more, while the project continues to harvest logs.
Plans are to continue with other workshops and to also have more outreach. In either case community members, especially basket makers and log pounders are encouraged to contact ATFE, SRMT Land Resources or the Cultural Center to offer feedback. One of the needs for the project is manpower. If there is an interest by anyone with logging skills or wishing to get logging skills SRMT is able to train volunteers for the project. If you would like to learn more about upcoming workshops, get in touch with Marla Jacobs, Akwesasne Cultural Center, marla@akwesasneculturalcenter.org. For more information about the ATFE Black Ash Project, contact Les Benedict, les.benedict@srmt-nsn.gov. To learn more about the harvest plans and how to help, contact Jessica Raspitha, jessica.raspitha@srmt-nsn.gov.
The workshops were sponsored by ATFE, the Cultural Center and SRMT. White ash logs were generously donated by Tim Baxter, Retired NYSDEC Forester. Marla Jacobs provided corn soup and chili for the lunches. Angello Johnson provided expert instruction. The
NYSDEC is acknowledged for their cooperation and support of the effort to salvage healthy black ash from local state forests. Nia:wen to all those that attended.
