MARKSVILLE, LA – The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana has invited the public to join regional Native American basket weavers, artists and cultural advocates for the 9th Annual Intertribal Basketry Summit on Saturday, October 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Tunica-Biloxi Gymnasium.
Hosted by the Tunica-Biloxi Language & Culture Revitalization Program (LCRP), the summit is a gathering celebrating the art and heritage of Indigenous basket making. Participants from diverse tribal nations will share weaving techniques, materials and cultural knowledge through hands-on demonstrations, discussion and collaboration. Beginners, experienced artists and observers are all encouraged to attend.
“The Basketry Summit continues to celebrate and preserve a vital piece of our tribal identity and connection to the land,” said John Barbry, Director of Development & Programming for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe. “It’s a space where weavers pass on knowledge, honor shared traditions and remind us that our cultural expressions remain living, evolving and essential.”
This year’s guest speaker is Velicia Bergstrom, of Gulf Shores Tribal Relations with the U.S. Forest Service, who will discuss the agency’s process for protecting cultural sites within national forests and its ongoing initiative to strengthen partnerships and consultation with tribes. The summit also highlights the growing collaboration between tribal communities and federal agencies to safeguard Indigenous traditions and heritage sites for future generations.
“The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe values the Forest Service’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with tribes to ensure that ancestral knowledge and sacred sites are respected and protected,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “Events like the Intertribal Basketry Summit give us the opportunity to listen, learn and collaborate as we strengthen partnerships rooted in mutual respect and shared stewardship of our cultural heritage.”
