
Birchbark Beads and Stars
Saturday, January 9, from 10am to 3pm
WETCC Extension Building, 2254 College Road, Mahnomen, MN
Enjoy a peaceful winter day, learning a traditional birchbark weaving style of Scandinavian and Russian culture. By creating strips of birchbark, then peeling the layers apart, shoes, hats, baskets, knife sheaths, ornaments and more were made for daily use. We will start, by learning how to prepare the bark into strips. Then, we will make multiple, size beads an advance into making stars. The beads and stars can be used to make a mobile, jewelry, ornament or personal gift.
Class size max: 8
This is a free workshop where lunch is provided!
Tammy Bellanger at 218-935-0417 Ext 213 or tbellanger@wetcc.edu
Saturday, January 9, from 10am to 3pm
WETCC Extension Building, 2254 College Road, Mahnomen, MN
Enjoy a peaceful winter day, learning a traditional birchbark weaving style of Scandinavian and Russian culture. By creating strips of birchbark, then peeling the layers apart, shoes, hats, baskets, knife sheaths, ornaments and more were made for daily use. We will start, by learning how to prepare the bark into strips. Then, we will make multiple, size beads an advance into making stars. The beads and stars can be used to make a mobile, jewelry, ornament or personal gift.
Class size max: 8
This is a free workshop where lunch is provided!
Tammy Bellanger at 218-935-0417 Ext 213 or tbellanger@wetcc.edu

Double Plaited Birchbark Knife Sheath
Saturday, February 20, 10am to 3pm
WETCC Extension Building, 2254 College Road, Mahnomen, MN
Continue an ancient tradition of knife sheath making used by the Russian and Scandinavian peoples. Together, we will celebrate the versatility of birch and its many gifts, by learning how to make strips of bark and peeling apart the bark layers. Then, we will make a woven knife sheath, to protect your knife blade. Bring along a knife to create your own birchbark plaited knife sheath.
Class size max: 8
This is a free workshop where lunch is provided!
For More Info or to RSVP call:
Tammy Bellanger at 218-935-0417 Ext 213 or tbellanger@wetcc.edu
Artist/Instructor Bio:
Colette Wolf is a lifelong artisan and crafter. In the past year, Colette has studied basket making with birchbark, reed and willow. She attended numerous hands-on, basket-making workshops and camps in the midwest. Colette has shared a life long love for useful basket containers with her mother. “To me, there is always life essence in plants, whether the plant is rooted in mother earth, or harvested to feed, or providing service in a basket. I feel this partnership every time I carry my laundry, in a willow basket. Plants help me remain rooted to my past and mother earth. For this reason, I surround my family with basket containers and many other items made from plants.” Colette is a White Earth descendant through her grandmother’s lineage, who grew up in the Whitefish Village with her fathers family, on the Lac Courte Oreilles reserve in northern Wisconsin.
Saturday, February 20, 10am to 3pm
WETCC Extension Building, 2254 College Road, Mahnomen, MN
Continue an ancient tradition of knife sheath making used by the Russian and Scandinavian peoples. Together, we will celebrate the versatility of birch and its many gifts, by learning how to make strips of bark and peeling apart the bark layers. Then, we will make a woven knife sheath, to protect your knife blade. Bring along a knife to create your own birchbark plaited knife sheath.
Class size max: 8
This is a free workshop where lunch is provided!
For More Info or to RSVP call:
Tammy Bellanger at 218-935-0417 Ext 213 or tbellanger@wetcc.edu
Artist/Instructor Bio:
Colette Wolf is a lifelong artisan and crafter. In the past year, Colette has studied basket making with birchbark, reed and willow. She attended numerous hands-on, basket-making workshops and camps in the midwest. Colette has shared a life long love for useful basket containers with her mother. “To me, there is always life essence in plants, whether the plant is rooted in mother earth, or harvested to feed, or providing service in a basket. I feel this partnership every time I carry my laundry, in a willow basket. Plants help me remain rooted to my past and mother earth. For this reason, I surround my family with basket containers and many other items made from plants.” Colette is a White Earth descendant through her grandmother’s lineage, who grew up in the Whitefish Village with her fathers family, on the Lac Courte Oreilles reserve in northern Wisconsin.

A partnership between the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Nation, White Earth Tribal and Community College and the Bush Foundation.