A basket is more than just a basket, if you ask St. Charles College student Hannah Morningstar.
Hannah learned how to make traditional split ash baskets from her grandfather. It’s a skill passed down by generations of her family. To Hannah, the basket represents the future of Canada.
She’ll be taking a split ash basket (as well as an essay she wrote) to Ottawa this month, where she will be representing Ontario at the Imagine A Canada contest put on by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
There, she will share her basket and essay with a ten-person round table group at Rideau Hall that will feature Governor General David Johnston.
In April, as part of the Imagine A Canada selection process, she met Ontario Lieutenant Elizabeth Dowdeswell during a round table discussion at Queen’s Park.
The basket she entered was made under the watchful eye of her grandfather and it has two red stripes like the wampum belt. For Hannah, the red belt signifies First Nations and Canada living together in harmony.
Hannah and her grandfather will attend the ceremony on June 20.
It’s been a big year for Hannah as she is the face of NAIG at the North American Indigenous Games this summer in Toronto.
As an ambassador for the games, Hannah is featured on posters and banners.
