Posted on Nov 25, 2023
These Lawrence students are reconnecting with Native culture using the art of thatching
692
15
3
7
7
0
Some of the very first homes in Kansas were built by members of the Wichita Tribe with cut bundles of native bluestem grass. A new generation of students at Haskell Indian Nations University are learning the skill, and reconnecting with a Great Plains tradition.
As a late fall wind rustles through a field of tall marsh plants, students from Haskell Indian Nations University, in Lawrence, Kansas, harvest cattails. In the wetlands behind the school, MK Kerron is teaching the art of traditional thatching.
Kerron, a member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and a master's-degree student in geography at the University of Kansas, learned how to work with grass from her grandfather.
“His artist name is Wayneokchat,” Kerron says. “It means 'yellow bird' in our language."
Kerron’s grandfather is well-known for the replicas of grass houses he creates for arts and crafts shows in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
As a late fall wind rustles through a field of tall marsh plants, students from Haskell Indian Nations University, in Lawrence, Kansas, harvest cattails. In the wetlands behind the school, MK Kerron is teaching the art of traditional thatching.
Kerron, a member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and a master's-degree student in geography at the University of Kansas, learned how to work with grass from her grandfather.
“His artist name is Wayneokchat,” Kerron says. “It means 'yellow bird' in our language."
Kerron’s grandfather is well-known for the replicas of grass houses he creates for arts and crafts shows in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
These Lawrence students are reconnecting with Native culture using the art of thatching
Posted from kcur.org
Lawrence
Native Americans
Culture
Tradition
Home
Posted 6 mo ago
Responses: 3
3
3
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“I originally learned how to do thatching back during the COVID pandemic, so that was the hobby I learned during the COVID,” Kerron says with a laugh. “I just really loved it, and now I feel happy that I can pass along these skills.”
Generations ago, the Wichita built large grass homes from big bluestem, which can grow 6 to 8 feet tall. Grasses were sewn together using bone needles and tall cedar poles were used for support. But local prairie grasses are in short supply on Haskell’s campus these days, so they’re using cattails."...
..."“I originally learned how to do thatching back during the COVID pandemic, so that was the hobby I learned during the COVID,” Kerron says with a laugh. “I just really loved it, and now I feel happy that I can pass along these skills.”
Generations ago, the Wichita built large grass homes from big bluestem, which can grow 6 to 8 feet tall. Grasses were sewn together using bone needles and tall cedar poles were used for support. But local prairie grasses are in short supply on Haskell’s campus these days, so they’re using cattails."...
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“I originally learned how to do thatching back during the COVID pandemic, so that was the hobby I learned during the COVID,” Kerron says with a laugh. “I just really loved it, and now I feel happy that I can pass along these skills.”
Generations ago, the Wichita built large grass homes from big bluestem, which can grow 6 to 8 feet tall. Grasses were sewn together using bone needles and tall cedar poles were used for support. But local prairie grasses are in short supply on Haskell’s campus these days, so they’re using cattails."...
..."“I originally learned how to do thatching back during the COVID pandemic, so that was the hobby I learned during the COVID,” Kerron says with a laugh. “I just really loved it, and now I feel happy that I can pass along these skills.”
Generations ago, the Wichita built large grass homes from big bluestem, which can grow 6 to 8 feet tall. Grasses were sewn together using bone needles and tall cedar poles were used for support. But local prairie grasses are in short supply on Haskell’s campus these days, so they’re using cattails."...
(3)
(0)
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google