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 LeRoy Graber learned to weave willow baskets from his grandfather, Jacob Graber, who came to the Dakota Territory from the Ukraine in 1874. Prior to settling in the Ukraine, the German Swiss Mennonites emigrated to Alsace-Lorraine and Poland, seeking religious freedom and exemption from conscription into the military. These settlers carried with them their crafts, foodways, stories, and agricultural knowledge. When Graber was 10 years old, his grandfather told him he was old enough to learn basketmaking. Known locally for his award-winning dairy farm until his retirement, Graber has demonstrated this craft for more than 25 years, weaving both willows and stories at the annual Schmeckfest (tasting festival) held in Freeman, South Dakota. Through the years, the stands of willows appropriate for basketmaking have gradually disappeared, and the number of people in the region actively making willow baskets has diminished to one, LeRoy Graber. Realizing the importance of this artistic tradition, Graber says, "I can feel the heritage of my ancestors in my hands." To ensure the perpetuation of the tradition, he and his son Kim have planted acres of different kinds of willows on their farm and Graber demonstrates the craft at local schools and teaches basketmaking in the apprenticeship programs of South and North Dakota.
National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency |
Audio FeaturesIn these segments taken from an audio interview, LeRoy Graber describes carrying on the basketweaving tradition he learned from his grandfather.
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