Maine's 'Basket Tree' Fights for Survival

The traditional art of Wabanaki basketmaking faces an existential threat as the emerald ash borer advances across Maine. This invasive beetle, identified in the U.S. in 2002, can lead to nearly total destruction of ash trees within five to ten years of infestation. Maine's brown ash, revered by tribes like the Mi'kmaq as the "basket tree" and central to their creation stories, is particularly susceptible.

Master basketmaker Richard Silliboy highlights the deep spiritual and historical connection his tribe has with the ash tree, an artform passed down through generations. Post-colonization, basketmaking also served as a crucial income source. Efforts to combat the beetle's spread have been underway since before its arrival in Maine in 2018, including firewood quarantines and public education.

A collaborative approach, known as the Ash Protection Collaboration Across Waponahkik (APCAW), unites tribal members and scientists. Strategies include selective logging, creating "trap" trees for burning, and introducing parasitic wasps to control beetle populations. The Maine Forest Service also injects insecticides into mature trees to preserve genetic diversity.

Future preservation efforts involve seed collection and storage, alongside initiatives like the Passamaquoddy Ash Nursery, aiming to cultivate a new generation of resistant trees. Researchers are also studying the genetics of surviving trees for cross-breeding. Despite these proactive measures, the short-term outlook is bleak, with predictions of 95% of Maine's ash trees dying by 2040.

Concerns remain regarding the ecological and health impacts of some preservation methods, such as insecticide use and potential unintended consequences of introducing new species like parasitic wasps. Basketmakers also voice apprehension about genetically modifying the brown ash, questioning the impact on the traditional relationship with the tree. These tribal perspectives are being integrated into response planning.

Despite the anticipated losses and challenges, there is cautious optimism for the long-term survival of the species through genetic research and replanting. While the immediate future will be difficult for basketmakers, the resilience of the Wabanaki people ensures their artistic expression will endure, adapting for a future when the basket tree population may rebound.