It doesn’t take much in the way of black ash strips to make one of Virick Francis’ miniature baskets—baskets less than half an inch across and tall, exquisite miniatures that are collected by enthusiasts around the world. The Eskasoni man learned to make baskets by watching his mother and grandmother ply their craft making traditional Mi’kmaw baskets when he was a child. He found a practical use for all that observation when he began making baskets to earn money while living in the US. For the past ten years, this has been his fulltime work and his passion.

While many Mi’kmaq basket creators use maple for their weavings, Virick prefers to use black ash, which splits easily into long, flexible strips, perfect for weaving. He does make larger items including Easter eggs, Christmas ornaments and other decorative items, but he can scarcely keep up the demand for his tiny baskets. He hopes to teach more Mi’kmaw youth to make baskets and help preserve this important cultural trade—be sure to check Virick and his work out at Saltscapes Expo!