Cherokee National Treasure
Basket Weaving
Bessie Russell, Cherokee National Treasure, is well known for her talents and knowledge in hunting and gathering the "best" honeysuckle runners and natural dyes which she uses to create beautiful and award winning traditional double-wall, lidded baskets.
"I like to gather my honeysuckle after the first frost because the snakes have all gone underground and the runners have grown all summer long. Going to the woods and gathering natural materials is my favorite part of making honeysuckle baskets. I like to find honeysuckle that grows wild in open fields where the runners grow straight and long. I usually scoot my feet along the ground to lift up the runners and find the best ones for basket making. My favorite dyes are blood root and black walnut when making traditional double wall baskets. I enjoy spending a whole day at a time riding and walking around with firends and family searching out and gathering natural materials, especially if they speak Cherokee with me. Not too many people will get out in the woods like the used to for gathering honeysuckle anymore."
