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Immokalee community learns to make sweetgrass baskets

Sweetgrass basket instructor Hali Garcia, seated in front, shows Demi Garza the intricacies of starting a sweetgrass basket during the sweetgrass basket class in Immokalee on Aug. 29. (Beverly Bidney)

IMMOKALEE — Sweetgrass may be hard to find on or near Seminole reservations, but tribal members interested in learning what to do with the traditional fiber are easier to find.

About a dozen folks turned out to learn how to make the iconic baskets Aug. 29 in the Immokalee gymnasium. The class was taught by Hali Garcia, who is also an apprentice for renowned basket maker and teacher Donna Frank.

Garcia was impressed with the amount of people in the class.

“They all want to learn to do traditional basketry,” said Garcia, of the Hollywood
Reservation. “I’ve been making baskets since 2013, but I’ve been around them all my life. I’m a fourth-generation basket maker.”

Ozzy Garza takes his time as he makes his first sweetgrass basket. (Beverly Bidney)

Garcia’s mother Virginia Garcia Sanders, grandmother Delores Jumper and great-grandmother Tommie Jumper were all basket makers.

The class consisted of some first-timers and some with experience. Sheila Aguilar learned to make baskets from her mother Elaine Aguilar and grandmother Lucy Johns, but she hasn’t done it in many years and was glad to pick it up again.

“This is my first time making a basket,” said Ozzy Garza. “It’s different. I came here to learn something new.”

By the end of the class, everyone had received one-on-one instruction from Garcia and left with a good start on a new basket and the knowledge of how to complete it.

Juanita Martinez concentrates as she uses thread to attach the coil of sweetgrass in the basket she is making. (Beverly Bidney)
Jessica Osceola proudly shows off the basket she is making. (Beverly Bidney)
Beverly Bidney
Beverly Bidney has been a reporter and photographer for The Seminole Tribune since 2012. During her career, she has worked at various newspapers around the country including the Muskogee Phoenix in Oklahoma, Miami Herald, Associated Press, USA Today and other publications nationwide. A NAJA award winning journalist, she has covered just about everything over the years and is an advocate for a strong press. Contact her at beverlybidney@semtribe.com.
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