Caddo Nation River Cane Weaving Revitalization with Jackie Bullard
April 21, 2023 – On Sunday, April 30th (YES! You read that right – SUNDAY!), Mission Dolores State Historic Site will be hosting a free program with Jackie Bullard of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma on her experience as a student in the Caddo Nation River Cane Basket Weaving Revitalization program.
On SUNDAY, April 30th at Mission Dolores State Historic Site, Ms. Jackie Bullard, a member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, will be sharing how the Caddo River cane weaving revitalization program went from a dream to reality, how she came to participate as a student and what she has learned along the way. Jackie will also be bringing samples of River cane and Caddo basketry for attendees to get a glimpse into the painstaking work that goes into the weaving process from start to finish.
Ms. Bullard’s program will start at 1 pm and include a question and answer session and examples of Caddo basketry as well as the raw River cane used to make these works of art.
Established in 1717 by Spanish settlers, Mission Dolores played an important role in shaping the Spanish experience with some of Texas’ earliest European immigrants. “River cane stands once covered thousands of acres across the Southeast from Texas all the way to New York state. Many, many Native American tribes, including the Caddo, Alabama-Coushatta, Choctaw and Seminole used, and still use, the River cane plant for multiple purposes from weaving baskets and mats to making arrow shafts,” said Lisa Savage, Educator/Interpreter at Mission Dolores State Historic Site. “The joint revitalization project between Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma is helping the Caddo people regain a lost weaving skill that will now be passed down from generation to generation as their ancestors did for hundreds and hundreds of years.”
Admission to the program is free and suitable for those age 12 and older. The program will run from 1 pm - 2 pm on SUNDAY, April 30th. Please call 936-275-3815 or visit www.visitmissiondolores.com for more information.
Mission Dolores State Historic Site 701 S Broadway Street San Augustine, TX 75972.
