Canistrumology (BASKET WEAVING. YES, BASKET WEAVING) with James C. Bamba

Thorny leaves! Embarrassing imports! Basket gossip! Making cool stuff from invasive vines! Renowned weaver and teacher, James C. Bamba, connected more deeply with his Mariana Island heritage through weaving and shares how you know when plant fiber is ready, the anatomy of a coconut tree, how to look a gift basket in the mouth, the baskets that he cherishes the most, how to design with your mind, what he thinks about when he’s weaving, basket jokes he hates the most, and when learning another culture’s craft is appropriate or appropriation. 

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A donation went to Sagan Kotturan Chamoru

More episode sources and links

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Ethnoecology (ETHNOBOTANY/NATIVE PLANTS), Dendrology (TREES), Indigenous Fashionology (NATIVE CLOTHING), Indigenous Cuisinology (NATIVE COOKING), Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE), Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES), Neuroendocrinology (SEX & GENDER), Ergopathology (BURNOUT), Corvid Thanatology (CROW FUNERALS)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn