Thatching

This term the thatching activity was the first session for material culture in the SC/SS 115 Ethnobotany course. As a result, I opened the class with an introduction to material culture and the loss of material culture. As usual I digressed, too many ideas tumbling around in my head when I try to tackle material culture. Then I introduced thatching and invited the students to try their own hand at thatching. Some had done this before, but as in terms past, a few noted that this was their first time to try making thatch. The Chuukese students noted that they use a braided thatch done using coconut leaves that involves no sewing. I have seen such thatch, islands where coconut is used as thatch often appear to use the woven/braided thatching approach.

Sheeron starts doakoahs en ruhk

MJ works on separating the nohk with the intention of making a broom

Berg begins doakoahs en ruhk

Flores starts his thatch

Don, Luckyleen, Jaylino, Flores, MJ, Myrantha, Gavrin, Hart, and Berg


Adore worked on thatching needles

Harvey setting down a consistent sewing line for doakoahs en ruhk

Sheeron

Gavrin shows experience with a tight weave despite his claim to this being his first

Trisha

Berg

Paltiela, who is familiar with the woven thatching of Chuuk, tries her hand at Pohnpeian thatching

Adore

Flores demonstrates a very regular weave, difficult for those without experience to achieve


MJ's broom project

Hart holds the handls 


A traditional broom just in time for Halloween

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