Made to Last: Mohegan Basket Traditions with Sharon Maynard and Cass Meehan

We’re excited to present a series of programs that will shine a light on some of our most treasured collection items. In the Rebellious exhibition, we featured a woven wall pocket made by a Mohegan basket-maker from the Tantaquidgeon family. This basket and many others in our collection communicate the history and culture of the Mohegan people.

In this program, Mohegan basket-makers Sharon Maynard and Cass Meehan will utilize historic baskets from the Museum collection to share the living craft and tradition of Mohegan basketry from the 17th century to today. You will have an opportunity to see several historic baskets from our collection up close!

About our Speakers:
Sharon Maynard is a Mohegan elder and a Tribal Nonner. Retired after serving 12 years on the Council of Elders, she has worked in the tribe’s Cultural and Community Programs Department as a manager, and as a field and lab technician with the tribe’s Archaeology Department. An avid basket weaver, her interests include Algonquin Language restoration, primitive technologies, music, and Indigenous foodways.

Cass Meehan is a Mohegan craftsman, photographer, sewist, and more. They grew up deeply involved in their Mohegan culture, frequenting the Craft Room alongside their mother who worked in the Cultural Department. Cass has previously worked in Philadelphia as a Props Master, Costume Designer, Production Photographer, and Stage Manager before taking their current role as Arts & Crafts Program Coordinator within their Mohegan Tribal community.