Crafts & Tool Making

The tools, vessels, and objects we make with our hands are not just artistic expressions, they are extensions of our foodways, our families, and our responsibilities to the land. Whether it's a corn pounder, a planting stick, a clay pot, or a spoon, each item was developed out of deep relationship with our seeds and our ways of life.

At Ukwakhwa, we support and uplift these traditional crafts because they help us remember how our ancestors lived connected to purpose, place, and people. These items are practical, beautiful, and built to serve. They reflect the intelligence of our systems: paddles shaped for bread-making, corn pounders strong enough to make fine mush flour, and pouches that carry our medicines.

We collaborate with Indigenous guest artists from across the region to lead most of these classes, ensuring that diverse styles, stories, and teachings are welcomed into our community. Sometimes we lead these sessions ourselves, but most often, we serve as hosts, learners, and organizers. We help to keep these creative practices alive and accessible.

These crafts work hand-in-hand with our agricultural teachings. Just as we reclaim our seeds and meals, we also reclaim the tools used to plant, process, and share them.