Yellowknife (May 03/04) - Author and artist Suzan Marie has published the follow-up to her book on traditional Dene spruce root basketry.

Author Suzan Marie holds an unfinished babiche bag. Her new book Whadoo tehmi: Long Ago People's Packsacks is both a history and guide to making one of the bags. - Jennifer Geens/NNSL photos

Whadoo tehmi: Long Ago People's Packsacks is both a history and a how-to book about the craft of Dene babiche bags.

"Where the spruce root baskets were the pots and pans, the babiche bags were the suitcases," said Marie.

Co-written with Judy Thompson of the Canadian museum of Civilization, the book is illustrated with photos of babiche bag making workshops held in Fort Good Hope, Fort Providence and Wha Ti.

"It's about spreading and sharing the knowledge," said Marie.

Marie's love affair with babiche bags began when she received one more than 100 years old as a university graduation present.

"It started to talk to me," said Marie.

Having grown up in non-aboriginal foster homes, Marie felt drawn to her birth-culture.

Marie was inspired to begin looking for her brother, who had been adopted. Though it turned out her brother had passed away, her search led her to Wha Ti, where she organized the first workshop on making babiche bags.

Making a babiche bag takes a number of steps. First, hides must be tanned, then you make a willow frame by carefully working the willow into a U-shape. Once the top of the hide is embellished, you begin lacing the bag's shape.

Marie's research took her and a number of artisans to Ottawa to visit the Canadian museum of Civilization. There, Thompson brought out examples of babiche bags in the museum's collection.

Marie's research wasn't without obstacles. She found that some elders didn't want to share information on making the bags for fear other artists would take business away from them. Many artisans depend on their crafts for income.

But Marie was able to convince them to pass on their knowledge.

"If you're greedy with it, it will die with you," she said.