Belle Deacon facts for kids

Belle Young Gochenauer Deacon (born September 23, 1904 – died 1995) was an amazing American artist. She was a skilled basketmaker and an expert in language and old stories.

Belle was an Alaska Native elder. This means she was a respected older person in her community. She knew a lot about the language and traditions of the Athabascan people. She shared this important knowledge with others. In 1992, she received a special award called the National Heritage Fellowship.

Discovering Belle Deacon's Early Life

Belle Young was born in 1904 in a small Athabascan community. This community was located in Anvik, Alaska. Her parents were John and Ellen Young.

Belle learned the art of basketmaking when she was a child. Her grandmother, Marcia, was also a basketmaker. This skill was passed down through her family.

Belle Deacon's Amazing Career

Belle Deacon was very talented at making baskets. She would find natural materials like plants and roots. Then, she would prepare and dye them with beautiful colors. She used these materials to weave her baskets.

When she was a widow with young children, she sold her baskets and furs. This helped her support her family.

Exhibiting Her Art

Belle's baskets were shown in a special art exhibit. This show was called "Contemporary Native American Arts." It traveled around Alaska in 1971.

In 1984, Belle was invited to be an artist at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This big event takes place in Washington, D.C. It celebrates different cultures and traditions.

Honored for Her Skills

In 1992, Belle received a very important award. It was the National Heritage Fellowship. This award comes from the National Endowment for the Arts. It honors people who are masters of traditional arts.

Sharing Athabascan Stories

Belle also shared many traditional stories. She told these folktales in the Deg Xinag language. This is the language of her people. She shared them with the Alaska Native Language Center. This center is at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Nine of her stories were later published in a book. The book was called Engithidong Xugixudhoy: Their stories of long ago (1987). It included both the original stories and their English translations. Her stories are important for their tales. They also show how the Athabascan people teach and share knowledge.

Belle Deacon's Family Life

Belle Deacon was married two times. She had children from both marriages. Her first husband was Henry Oliver Gochenauer. They had three children together.

Later, she married John Deacon, who was a fur trapper. They had at least four more children. They lived in a place called Grayling, Alaska.

One of Belle's daughters, Daisy Demientieff, also became a famous basketmaker. She learned from her mother's example. John Deacon passed away in 1984. Belle Deacon passed away in 1995.