Pomo Basket Weavers: A Tribute to Three Elders

Part one of Pomo Basket Weavers features a tribute to Laura Somersal through a biographical sketch of this well known Pomo basketweaver. Also presented in this program is an overview of the Pomoan Indian people and their culture. The focus of the program is on the incredibly beautiful and internationally acclaimed baskets created by these people. The baskets shown reveal the different types, styles, and techniques used in their making. (Sections- The People; The Baskets; Laura Somersal) Part two of Pomo Basket Weavers features a biographical tribute to Elsie Allen who is very well known and recently had a new public high school named after her. Also presented in this program is a brief history of Pomoan Indian people a s well as the progressive changes to their art of basket weaving. Another feature presented in this program is the Warm Springs Dam Project of t h e 1970s. Native people were called on for a special environmental project to relocate the sedge beds of traditional Pomo basketweavers and within the controversy of the dam building. (Sections- A History of Change; A Continuing Tradition; Elsie Allen) Part three of Pomo Basketweavers features a tribute to Mabel McKay who was a well known dream weaver as well as an Indian doctor. Also presented in this program is a look at the people and t h e basketry plants that they cultivated. The Pomo maintained a close relationship with the environment and this program reveals the spiritual rules and responsibility to the natural world. The program concludes by recognizing the gift passed on by this older generation of basketweavers and the need to not only preserve, but also perpetuate this traditional craft among today's new generation of basketweavers. (Sections- The People and the Plants, The Rules, Mabel McKay, Conclusion) Funding for this three part series was provided by The Ralph & Lois Stone Foundation and The Sonoma County Community Foundation. These programs were produced and directed by David Ludwig of Creative Light Productions. For further information contact David Ludwig dlcreativelight@gmail.com creativelightproductions.com