Mary Leaf facts for kids

Mary Leaf (1925–2004) was a talented basket maker from the Akwesasne Mohawk community. She lived in a special place that is right on the border between Canada and the United States. Mary learned how to make baskets from her mother, using traditional techniques. Her beautiful baskets are now kept in important museums like the Newark Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian.

About Mary Leaf

Mary Leaf was born in 1925. Her home was on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation. This area is unique because it is split by the border between Canada and the United States.

Her mother, Josephine Thompson, taught her many skills from a young age. Mary learned how to weave baskets using "brown ash" wood. She also learned how to lace lacrosse sticks.

Mary made many different kinds of baskets. Some were "fancy" baskets, which were mostly for looking at, not for everyday use. These small, colorful baskets were sometimes shaped like strawberries! She used a special "curl and twist" technique. Other famous basket makers like Florence Benedict, Mary Adams, and Katie Sickles also used this style.

After the 1930s, people started making fewer everyday baskets. This was because the Great Depression ended. Many Mohawk people found new jobs outside of farming. But Mary Leaf became very well known for her basket making. She helped bring back interest in this art form in the Northeastern Woodlands region during the late 1900s.

Her Artworks

Mary Leaf's amazing baskets are displayed in several museums. You can find her work at the Newark Museum in New Jersey. Her baskets are also at the North American Indian Traveling College in Ontario. The Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave, New York, also has her art. And of course, the National Museum of the American Indian proudly displays her creations.

In 2015, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery showed her baskets in a special exhibition. It was called Woven from Wood.

Special Recognition

In 1983, Mary Leaf received a special honour. She was celebrated at a banquet for Akwesasne basket makers. This event took place in Hogansburg, New York.

Her Passing

Mary Leaf passed away in 2004.