Isle a la Cache exhibit weaves together Pokagon Potawatomi stories, artistry

Baskets crafted from black ash by members of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi will be on display during a special exhibit this summer at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.

The “Our Storytellers: Pokagon Potawatomi Black Ash Baskets” exhibit begins Wednesday, July 1, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 30. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The exhibit was made possible by a donation from The Nature Foundation of Will County.

John Low and the Field Museum of Chicago curated the exhibit, which highlights the rich cultural history of basket weaving for the Pokagon Potawatomi. It also explores connections between craft, federal recognition, tribal resilience and the ongoing ecological threats to traditional ways of life for the Pokagon people.

“Visitors will gain a greater appreciation for the living traditions of the Pokagon Potawatomi people and the importance of protecting both cultural knowledge and the natural resources that sustain it,” said Jen Guest, facility supervisor at Isle a la Cache. “Isle a la Cache Museum is an ideal place for this exhibit because it brings people together to explore the rich Indigenous history of our region and the stories that continue to shape it today.”

Each basket maker’s skill and artistry come alive when you see the baskets up close, said Sara Russell, an interpretive naturalist at Isle a la Cache Museum.

“I’m in awe of every single basket,” she said. “To see about 30 of them together is a true pleasure.”

Russell said she particularly loves the baskets that depict strawberries and blueberries, plants that were important to the Pokagon Potawatomi.

“We’re fortunate to see different basket-making families, like the Brown and Pigeon families, and see how their styles are related as techniques are shared,” Russell added. “Visitors will have a chance to see elder baskets made decades ago using natural walnut dyes as well as see baskets made this century during workshops to continue the tradition.”

Russell said museum staff are grateful to Low for creating something that honors the Pokagon Potawatomi and their connection to the land and each other.

Low is the author of “Imprints: The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the City of Chicago.” He also is a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and is a professor emeritus at Ohio State University.

According to a press release describing the basket exhibit in 2021, the Pokagon Potawatomi regard the black ash baskets as living members of their community. But the basket-making craft has been threatened by government oppression in the past and now the emerald ash borer, which has destroyed many ash trees.

“For centuries, baskets have been an important part of Pokagon life,” the release stated. “Historically they were used for storage, to contain food, fibers and collect berries. These baskets have always had important roles to play in their communities.”