Pack Basket by Bill Gould

Pack Basket, Ash Splint, Abenaki

The pack basket with a leather harness shown in the picture below is particularly striking and showcases Bill Gould's skill in basketmaking. Used for carrying supplies while out in the woods, the pack basket is 20 inches high and made out of brown ash.

Bill Gould, Traditional Basket-maker

Basketmakers Bill and Sherry Gould work to maintain and continue the traditional art of basketmaking (“Western Abenaki Baskets”). They are enrolled members of the Abenaki Nation at Nulhegan/ Memphremagog and are passionate about making beautiful baskets (Gould). They pass on their knowledge and skill by taking on apprentices through the NH Arts Council Traditional Arts Program (Gould). As one of the main materials of basketmaking, ash trees are very important to basketmakers such as Bill Gould. Unfortunately, increasing human population and the introduction of foreign invasive species has made it much harder to find healthy ash trees for basketmaking.

The Emerald Ash Borer and Sustainability

The emerald ash borer, for example, is a beetle-like insect that eats Ash trees (Remillard). The beetle has already done a large amount of destruction. In Michigan alone, tens of millions of Ash trees have been lost, costing municipalities, property owners, nursery operators, and forest product industries tens of millions of dollars ("Emerald Ash Borer"). Although currently not present in New Hampshire, it is prevalent in Vermont and Massachusetts and the risk for its spread into New Hampshire is high (“Emerald Ash Borer”). New Hampshire forest service and other environmental agencies are doing what they can to prevent its introduction into the state (McCullough). For example, one way to avert the spread of the beetle is through the restriction of the transportation of firewood across state lines. Additionally, various traps developed specifically for the ash borer are used to capture the beetles (McCullough). Research is also being conducted into ground nesting wasps that feed on the borers and may keep their population in check (Remillard). This type of research ensures that Ash trees will survive for generations to come.

The Traditional Process of Basketmaking

Although gathering the material for basketmaking is a lengthy process, Bill Gould continues to make baskets the traditional Abenaki way by first felling and pounding an ash tree. The strips of growth rings are split down to very thin layers and the underside of the outer two layers are scraped smooth. The strips are then moistened and cut down to meet the size of the basket (Sturtevant). There are molds of all different shapes and sizes that the Abenaki basket makers use to form their baskets. For example, some molds are square and small while others are tall and circular (Sturtevant). The ash splints used in basket making can also be died different colors to add certain effects to the baskets. Click here for a video of Ash being split by Jesse Larocque.

Bill and Sherry Gould are committed to continue the traditions of basket making and often have open door events at their home so people can see their workshop and learn about Abenaki heritage and culture (Gould).

Works Cited

“Emerald Ash Borer.” emeraldashborer.info. n.d. Web. 13 October 2012.

Gould, Sherry. “Artist Biographies.” 

McCullough, Deborah G. “ Double-Decker Traps to Detect Emerald Ash Borer.” Michigan State University and USDA Forest Service. 2009. Web. 17 October 2012.

Remillard, Kathy. “NH Protects Itself from Emerald Ash Borer.” Union Leader. 21 July 2012. Web. 13 October 2012.

Sturtevant, William C. Handbook of North American Indians. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1978. Print.

“Western Abenaki Baskets – Home.” Western Abenaki Baskets. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.