Wanesia Misquadace,
Fond-du-Lac/Objibway, practices the rare art of birch bark biting; she estimates
there are no more than ten people in North America who currently create this
type of work. Misquadace harvests the birch bark in Minnesota and brings it to
her home in New Mexico. She peels thin layers of the birch bark and creates
intricate designs by biting the folded bark. Originally used at templates for
beadwork, quillwork, or story telling, Misquadace’s bitings, called wigwa
mamacenawejegam have become works unto themselves.
