Background:

Peggy Brennan is a master weaver and a historian of Cherokee basket traditions. She is steeped in knowledge about how to gather and prepare plants for weaving and for making dyes.  Today Peggy, an enrolled Cherokee, is in demand as an artist, teacher, demonstrator, and lecturer. Her baskets are sought after as she turned her focus 5 years ago from art competition to teaching.  Peggy is also an activist for positive change and founded the Oklahoma Native American Basketweavers Association.  This organization is active in restoring basketry traditions to the tribes removed to Oklahoma . 

 

Peggy was raised in Oklahoma .  After receiving a bachelor of arts from UCO, Edmond , OK , she worked for the State of Oklahoma for 35 years, retiring as a programs supervisor.  While employed she served on a committee to plan the cultural diversity program for the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.  During the extensive training for the Department, she participated in workshops including conflict resolution, identifying of racial bias, recognizing bias, solving problems, managing anger, and creating environments of diversity and inclusion. For the last three years she has given monthly programs on diversity for a local United Methodist Women’s group.  Her latest offering for cultural diversity was in 2007, when she implemented a Charter for Racial Justice for the UMW Unit.

 

Since 2004, she has been honored to work with Marsha MacDowell, curator, and Kurt Dewhurst, director of the Michigan State University Folklife Museum as a member of the curatorial advisory group in developing the Carriers of Culture projects.  In 2006, she was an artist, demonstrator and presenter at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.   and in 2007 at the Michigan University Museum ’s Folklife Festival.

 

Yearly at the festival, Common Hill on the Ground, McDaniel College , Westminster , Maryland , instructors teach music and art to create diversity and to promote non violent approaches to peace.  There, in her basketry classes, Peggy uses ancient Native American spirituality to begin dialog for building healthy relationships by respecting our differences. 

 

Main Focus:

With almost 20 years experience in demonstrating and teaching basketry, Peggy Brennan  has designed and presented Native American basketry, spirituality, creativity and cultural awareness programs for middle school to university level classes, art institutes, museums, non profit agencies, and teacher training programs.  Residencies and workshops may be customized to specific needs.  She works well with all ages and skill levels.

 

Focusing on why Native American basketry was important to the Indian woman and the tribe in all areas of life, she creates environments that encourage us to tell our story.  Why it is important to tell our story.  When we tell our story, we are telling the story of our community, of our generation for the children of the next seven generations.  Remembering and acknowledging our past, we can be grateful. 

 

Offerings:

Weaving a Spirited Vessel

Peggy teaches the spirituality and meaning of Native American symbols in basketry beginning from the mound builders.  Students may participate in breathing and mental exercises while learning to use  ancient spirituality to increase creativity and productivity.  Spirituality lessons include using the four directions for meditation and thankfulness. Peggy tells her story of a life lived from a place of generosity, gratitude, hope, faith and inclusiveness.  She explains the differences in gratitude dances and helps participants to identify their dance.  She creates a relaxing and accepting atmosphere where only unique baskets are allowed and where all art is beautiful and useful. 

 

With demonstrations and one on one instruction, participants weave a unique vessel.  During the workshop, participants may create a gratitude journal for thoughts and sketches of plants used in weaving and of the progress of the vessel.

 

Other art projects include mixed media for woven collages, paper weaving, and  natural dyes preparation.

 

Publications and Awards:

Santa Fe Market awarded her first place in basketry as well as major museums as the Eiteljorg, Heard, Cherokee National Museum , Five Civilized Tribes and the Cherokee National Historical Society.

 

She publishes a booklet about gathering and preparing plants for basketry, Native Baskets.  She publishes her own series of basketry patterns.  A variety of articles are free to the public and many are on her web site.  Articles include history of SE Indian basketry and Native American basketry symbols.

 

Interviews with Peggy are in magazines and newspapers across the United States . They include Native Peoples’ magazine and publications for Smithsonian Folklife Museum and National Museum of American Indian.

 

Availability

Peggy is available for programs and workshops throughout the United States .

 

Fee

Negotiable with a portion returned to the Foundation of Cultural Diversity

 

Contact

pbweave@yahoo.com

www.cherokeebaskets.com

 

Mailing Address:

Peggy Brennan

PO Box 5404

Edmond, OK 73083

 

405 615 3702