The white buffalo is a sacred animal to most Native Americans and the birth of a white buffalo calf is a significant event, a sign prayers are being heard and prophecies will be fulfilled.  While a white buffalo calf is rare, rarer still is it for the calf to retain most of its white color as it grows to adulthood - so the adult white buffalo bull on this sweetgrass/birchbark/porcupine quill basket holds spiritual meaning.  Paul St John, Mohawk has made this beautiful basket.  (Many people are unaware that the eastern US had bison until the late 1700s and the Iroquois (including the Mohawk) relied on the bison for a good part of their diet until the buffalo/bison were killed off there. 

This larger oval basket has birch bark at center of lid and used as the bottom -  then coiled tidal sweetgrass on sides and at rim of cover.  It is 7.75" long, 5.75" across  and 2.75" high.  The birch bark medallion at center top is 5.75" long and 4.75" high.  The buffalo is made of natural white porcupine quills with their darker ends...  you can see how Paul uses the white / dark part of the quill to make a realistic white buffalo with the brown end of the quill making the buffalo's horn and  used to make his eye.  Paul has captured the buffalo's walking stance as it ambles across dyed green quill grass.   See 2nd to last photo in slideshow - a white adult buffalo grazing with brown buffalo    Last photo in slideshow is of Paul and a friend.  -  Photo illustrates Paul's real connection with the creatures he depicts in his work  Paul St. John lives in Maine, his mother is Passamaquoddy.  He grew up on the Mohawk lands in New York, his father's homeland and is an enrolled Mohawk tribal member.  - When I saw his work I knew immediately I needed to offer his great baskets.  While quill work and coiled sweetgrass baskets are  historically Maine Indian traditional crafts, currently no one but Paul St. John is actively practicing this craft.  -  Passamaquoddy basketmakers, Jeremy Frey and Otter, both have used some quill work on their baskets...  but quill work on coiled sweetgrass baskets are Paul St John's specialty.  Watch this store for more of his pieces.  Can't wait to see what he is going to create next.

  

  Paul has made many quill animals, fox, bear, beaver, deer, wolf, moose - and even more birds, cardinal, eagle, loon, blue jay, hawk, hummingbird, great blue heron, chickadee, several species of ducks- Many many others   - see if your favorite is in this ebay store.  He not only does sweetgrass coil baskets and porcupine quill work on birch bark -- but also amazing dolls, Iroquois beadwork, MicMac beadwork,  great moccasins, knife sheaths, medicine bags and so much more!  He is truly a man of many (many many) talents! 

Watch this store for more of his pieces.  Can't wait to see what he is going to create next.