Traditional Craft Resource

Basket Weaving & Fibre Crafts of Canada

Covering the techniques, materials, and living traditions behind hand-woven baskets — from sweetgrass work on the Atlantic coast to cedar-root forms in British Columbia.

Craft, Materials & Tradition

Each piece below covers a distinct aspect of basket weaving in Canada — technique, sourcing, and cultural context.

Technique

Traditional Coiling Techniques in Basket Weaving

A detailed look at the coiling method — how fibre bundles are shaped and bound into durable, finely patterned forms.

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Materials

Sourcing Natural Materials for Basket Weaving

How weavers identify, harvest, and prepare sweetgrass, black ash splints, cedar bark, and other native fibres.

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Traditions

Indigenous Fibre Craft Traditions in Canada

An overview of basketry practices among Mi’kmaq, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Pacific Northwest nations.

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About This Resource

What This Site Covers

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Documented Techniques

Step-by-step descriptions of coiling, twining, plaiting, and wicker construction drawn from documented craft traditions.

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Natural Fibre Sourcing

Notes on where specific plant materials grow in Canada, seasonal harvesting windows, and preparation methods used by practitioners.

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Cultural Context

Background on how basketry functions within specific Indigenous communities — as functional object, trade item, and ceremonial form.

Visual Reference

Craft in Practice

Basketry as Display

Finished baskets presented at craft markets and cultural exhibitions give a sense of the range of forms, colours, and weave patterns achieved through traditional methods.

The Weaving Process

Weaving a basket demands patience and hand strength. Each pass of material must be kept at consistent tension, particularly when working with rigid splints or thick coiling bundles.