BASKETMAKING
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Baskets have been made to sell or trade by the Haudenosaunee since the late 1700s. They were and continue to be an important economic asset for the Haudenosaunee. Originally baskets were made by Haudenosaunee for Iroquois for such purposes as storage, food preparation, and transportation. Various social changes such as loss of land, changing male and female roles and Christianity affected the Haudenosaunee economic system and made basketmaking and trading an important economic benefit in some communities. Many of the first baskets made for trade were work baskets. While many of these were strictly work baskets, some of the storage baskets were ornamented with painted or stamped designs. By the latter part of the 1800s, fancier baskets were made incorporating sweetgrass and special weaves. These baskets could be sold to tourists at such places as Saratoga Springs or Niagara Falls or to trading posts.

Basketry at Akwesasne grew considerably at the turn of the century due in large part to the St. Regis trading post. By standardizing the basket styles and sizes, the trading post was able to produce a catalog and market the baskets throughout the country. During the 1940s and 50s, few continued to make baskets, but by the late 1960s basket weaving was becoming more important at Akwesasne. A few women hung out signs indicating that they made baskets, and a cooperative was formed to market the baskets. For many years during the 1970s the Mohawk Basket Fund was a steady outlet for the basket makers. Today, the Akwesasne Museum and North American Indian traveling College are outlets on the reservation. While basket making flourishes at Akwesasne, it has not been sustained in other communities. Only at Oneida, Ontario and Kahnawake are baskets made by a very few individuals. At Akwesasne, many families are involved, including young people, and some classes help to encourage others to become involved.

The making of a basket is a complicated process, involving a number of people. First the black ash tree must be selected and cut down. The bark is then stripped from the tree. Pounding the length of the log with the back of an ax head causes thick splints to separate at the annual rings. These splints are made thinner initially by splitting the top of the splint with a knife and then pulling it apart. The thin splints must then be smoothed and cut to size for weaving. If a basket is to be colorful, splints must at this point be dyed. When sweetgrass is used, this too must be gathered, cleaned, and sometimes braided for extra texture. If a basket is to have a handle, either hickory handle is carved or one is braided from sweetgrass. Once these materials are gathered and prepared, the basket is ready to be woven. Various weaves are employed. The tightness and evenness of the weave contribute to a well-made basket.