RONNI-LEIGH GOEMAN

Eel Clan, Onondaga Nation

STONEHORSE GOEMAN

Tonawanda-Seneca, Hawk Clan

Incorporating the carvings of Stonehorse Goeman and embellishing her pieces with moose hair tufting and quill, Ronni-leigh's work embodies the delicate balance between tradition and individuality she learned from elders as a teen. Mentored by Mohawk basketmaker Mae Bigtree, the young protégé was instructed to “never give up on a basket.”

 

Remarking on the immense, but poignant satisfaction of having a basket purchased by a museum in the looming extinction of New York's ash forests, Ronni-leigh takes solace in the knowledge “that it will live on for generations and people are going to get to see it – not just collectors.”

 

The couple's award winning collaborations “not only preserve the basketmaking culture, but incorporate the stories of our people.”