Art Form: Birch bark cut out work

Location(s): Sault Ste. Marie (Chippewa County) and Okemos (Ingham County)

Patricia Shackleton

Portrait of Patricia Shackleton

Samples of Patricia Shackleton's birch bark cut out work on display

Patricia Shackleton is a motivated and committed educator of Ojibwa and Native culture and history and has worked for the betterment of her people for many years. She has held a variety of positions in local and state government to achieve her aim and is an advocate for Native rights. As a member and former employee of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, she worked as a tribal elder rural program developer and as the tribe’s resource specialist. Shackleton created Anishinaabegamig Cultural Center in 2001 has served as its volunteer executive director for the past two decades. It is the only public charity in the state that targets Anishinaabe people with a mission to address at-large Anishinaabek health disparities. Through this charity, Patricia has been able to educate over 2,400 school children in Anishinaabek arts and culture. Her 2021 book, How the Little People Stole My Wampum, tells the Anishinaabe story of the Bukwodjininee (Little People) and follows them through several tales and adventures.

In addition to her considerable advocacy work, Patricia is a skilled artist. She sites her 1997 apprenticeship under Anny Hubbard as key in both her development as an artist and in the revival of the art form in the Great Lakes Basin. She writes, “Every cut out is different—whether single double or triple folds—they are a fluid creation that are dependent on the material, whether or not there are knots or flaw no two cut outs are the same. Traditionally the work is a family treasure that is cherished and admired on the coldest of winter nights while sitting around a fire.” She has served as a master artist in birch bark out work for the Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program three times and has apprenticed with other Native artists in stone carving and traditional storytelling to broaden the scope of her creative practice and cultural knowledge.

- Micah Ling, 2020