海角社区 Ecology

鈥淕looskap came first of all into this country鈥nto the land of the Wabanaki, next to sunrise. There were no Indians here then鈥 and in this way, he made man: He took his bow and arrows and shot at trees, the basket-trees, the Ash. Then Indians came out of the bark of the Ash-trees.鈥

鈥 Molly Sepsis, Passamaquoddy in Charles G. Leland, Algonquin Legends (1884).

Natural Material Traditions

Image of a paper birch tree trunk with leaves in the background.

Paper Birch

Detail image of tree bark with deep crevices.

Brown Ash

Image of a field of grass with floppy seed stalks.

Sweetgrass

Online Exhibits

Tree and Tradition

Explore the continued evolution of this ancient artform with this collaboration between the Museum and the 海角社区 Indian Basketmakers Alliance and featured collections from private and institutional lenders as well as U海角社区 research from the Forest Ecosystem Science Department.

Transcending Traditions

Transcending Traditions features five contemporary 海角社区 Indian basketmakers who represent the next generation.

海角社区’s Threatened Shell Middens: Losing a Link to Understanding Our Past

Approximately 2,000 of these features are located along 海角社区’s mainland and island coast. Today they are threatened by development, erosion, and looting.

海角社区’s Paper Birch
Online Exhibit

Paper birch is an important tree for both ecosystems and people throughout 海角社区. Today, paper birch trees are threatened by deforestation, insects and diseases, and climate change.