Joshua Homminga

My name is Josh Homminga and I’m a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, located in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. I was born on August 2, 1978. I grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, MI and lived there until 2012, then moved to Bay Mills Indian Community with my wife, Sarah. I worked for Sault Tribe, within their Cultural Division, for most of my adult life and in 2015, I decided to pursue basketry full-time. Black ash basketry has always been part of my life growing up. My great, great-grandmother, Jane Williams, passed this art down to her children and it continued down to my great-aunt, Bernadette Azevedo. Bernadette is the one who taught me basketry. I made my first basket in 2007, in which I harvested and processed all the materials. My aunt and uncle, Bernadette and Roger, shared their knowledge by hosting basket workshops. They were concerned that this art would die out within our family. Her words were, “anyone can make a basket, but would they also be able to harvest and process a log to make the supplies to make the basket”. I took her words to heart and decided I would continue on this art and teach our future generations. I taught my wife, Sarah and together we have hosted many workshops and demonstrations. We are teaching our children so the art of black ash basketry stays alive within our family.