About the Artist

This tribe's sovereign nation is located primarily in Wisconsin, although some of its property is situated in a county in Minnesota. Ho-Chunks were named Winnebagos by neighboring Algonquin tribes, which was a derogatory label referencing the waters which would get smelly in the spring due to dead fish washing up on shore. The Ho-Chunks originally occupied land in what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. Their people number approximately 12,000 members today and the name translates loosely as people of the Big Voice.

Very few Ho-Chunk artisans continue to create baskets today. They are known for impeccably designed plaited carrying baskets using both dyed and natural colored material (black ash).