wi_mburns_studio_68

Mary Burns, weaver.
Ancestral Women Woven Portraits: handwoven jacquard portraits. Partial Exhibition at the Madeline Island Historical Museum on Madeline Island, Wisconsin (Lake Superior, WI).
Marie Estelle Webster Gilane, Ingashi with her grandmother Julia Bennett.
Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. 31″ x 42″
From CVA's booklet (Wausau, WI) :
Marie Webster was born at home in Odanah, Wisconsin, in 1935, during the “moon of wild rice harvesting,” Manoominike-giizis. She was delivered by her grandmother, Julia Bennett Zhiibayaash, and was the first-born child to her mother, Cecelia Rebecca Bennett, and father, Francis Raymond Webster. She joined a family that would eventually include 8 brothers and 2 sisters.By the end of World War II, due to lack of work, the Webster’s moved to Milwaukee. At age 16, Marie went to work for Western Tobacco at a minimum wage of 75 cents an hour. She joined the Marine Corps in 1956 and served for two years before receiving an honorable discharge. She had her first child, Terry Francis Webster, in 1958. In 1960, she met the love of her life, William Gilane Jr. (Bill), and they went on to make their home together for 25 years, having two children before Bill died in 1989. Marie eventually met another soul mate, August Zamka (Augie). Marie was a trustee of the Congregation of the Great Spirit Church for 20 years and is the keeper of the women’s drum at the church, where she sings every Sunday. She has told her family and friends that singing has kept her strong and healthy. Julia Bennett, Zhiibayaash “If you are going to do something, do it properly.” When Julia said this, the “something” was to be done in the Ojibwe way, whether creating a piece of beadwork or knocking wild rice. Ojibwe was Julia’s first language; however, as it was with many other Ojibwe people, she acquired English under the tutelage of Catholic nuns. Julia was known throughout the Odanah community for her many cultural skills, in particular her many fine pieces of beadwork. The community came to depend on her for cultural knowledge and traditional Indian medicine. Her prominence took her far beyond the Odanah community. Because of Julia’s respected cultural bearing and knowledge, it is told that the Bad River Tribe in the late 1930’s entrusted the Migiziwigwanaatig, the Eagle Flag Staff, to Julia to be genawendang, “one who is caretaker,” one of the highest honors within the Ojibwe way, which she faithfully retained until her end-time.

The weaving, portraying the intergenerational strength of the women, depicts grandmother and granddaughter holding the Eagle Staff and wearing the same decorated dress.

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