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| Jo 'Hugga' Dana Master Carver and Penobscot Nation Wildlife technician |
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I carved my first walking stick when I was fifteen. I carved my first root club
when I was eighteen.
I am Penobscot. I have lived on Indian Island, the heart of the Penobscot
Nation, my whole life.
As I have grown up, I have been encouraged to embrace my traditional and
cultural heritage.
My earliest memories include traditional song and drumming. I treasure my
time canoing on the Penobscot River to fish, hunt and pick fiddle
heads.
These things connect me to the spirit of my people.
My family tree includes John and Orson Neptune, Olympic runner Andrew
Sockalexis and Cleveland Indian namesake Louis Sockalexis.
I was raised with three brothers and four sisters. My mother, Carol Dana
works to revitalize our native language which few still speak.
My father, Stan Neptune taught me to carve. He learned from one of his
elders, Senabeh Francis. My father continues to carve and is working on
documenting the history of root clubs back to the 1600's.
There is a long Wabanaki history of carving native faces, animals and spirit
beings into the root burl of gray birch. These clubs include traditional
designs like leaf, floral, double curve and feathers carved into the handle.
Historically, the clubs spoke of tribal identity, family clans, and the
connection to the elements of nature.
I am very proud to continue to express my belief in these values in the time
honored art of chip carving.
Jo ‘Hugga” Dana
Master Carver
e-mail
to contact or to place on order
when I was eighteen.
I am Penobscot. I have lived on Indian Island, the heart of the Penobscot
Nation, my whole life.
As I have grown up, I have been encouraged to embrace my traditional and
cultural heritage.
My earliest memories include traditional song and drumming. I treasure my
time canoing on the Penobscot River to fish, hunt and pick fiddle
heads.
These things connect me to the spirit of my people.
My family tree includes John and Orson Neptune, Olympic runner Andrew
Sockalexis and Cleveland Indian namesake Louis Sockalexis.
I was raised with three brothers and four sisters. My mother, Carol Dana
works to revitalize our native language which few still speak.
My father, Stan Neptune taught me to carve. He learned from one of his
elders, Senabeh Francis. My father continues to carve and is working on
documenting the history of root clubs back to the 1600's.
There is a long Wabanaki history of carving native faces, animals and spirit
beings into the root burl of gray birch. These clubs include traditional
designs like leaf, floral, double curve and feathers carved into the handle.
Historically, the clubs spoke of tribal identity, family clans, and the
connection to the elements of nature.
I am very proud to continue to express my belief in these values in the time
honored art of chip carving.
Jo ‘Hugga” Dana
Master Carver
to contact or to place on order
| To contact me or to place an order feel free to e-mail me. You can also call me at: (207)941-9373 or write to me at: Pam outdusis Cunningham 208 Old County Rd Hampden, ME, USA 04444-1807 |