Church Brings Black Ash Basketry to Lilac Festival
By Eric Fish

Kelly Church demonstrates the craft of black ash basketry Wednesday, June 13, at the Mackinac Island Public Library. Mrs. Church is a fifth generation basket weaver and her daughter, Cherish Parrish, is now also involved in the craft.

Originally a one-day event, the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival has grown into a 10- day extravaganza over its 58- year history, offering various activities to keep people entertained. New this year to the festival's activities was a demonstration of the art of Black Ash Basketry by Kelly Church.

Mrs. Church and her 18-year old daughter, Cherish Parrish, gathered Wednesday, June 13, at the Mackinac Island Public Library for a special demonstration of their cultural craft.

Together, Mrs. Church and Miss Parrish explained the labor of love that is Black Ash Basketry, demonstrated how to construct a basket, and warned the audience of the hazards that could affect their craft in the future.

Mrs. Church is a member of Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and is a fifth-generation basket weaver.

The practice begins with a selection of a tree for the materials. There are four types of ash trees in Michigan, and the black ash is found in swampy areas. Mrs. Church explained how the wood must be scraped from the tree and pounded to allow it to be separated along the growth rings. The rings are scraped smooth and cut to the desired length to create baskets.

Preparation, she noted, is 75% of the basket-making process. It can take up to an hour to pound out a dozen growth rings.

"To be able to hang onto this and pass it down is very important," Mrs. Church said of her craft.

The Emerald Ash Borer, however, threatens the basketry. The beetle-type creature was discovered in the metro- Detroit area in 2002 and is spreading. So far, efforts to keep it from entering the Upper Peninsula have been successful.

"We're all striving to save it today," Mrs. Church said of the tree.

While the adults cause little damage to the tree, the larva of the Emerald Ash Borer feed on the inner bark of the trees, interfering with the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. It's estimated that 20 million Ash Trees in Lower Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana have been killed by the insect.

"We know we're going to lose it eventually with the Emerald Ash Bore," she said, "but there's a hope." Seeds of the ash trees may be able to restore the species in the future.

"To lose our cultural art forms, that's just a part of us being lost," she said.

Mrs. Church has been coming to Mackinac Island since childhood and is still in awe of its beauty.

"I love it here," she said. "It's phenomenal. I love how there's no cars, it's relaxing, it's peaceful. It kind of reminds us that we don't have to be dependent on everything that's man made."