Woodland Indian (Odawa) Pottery

Frank Ettawageshik and Joseph Ettawageshik (East Lansing, Michigan)
Frank Ettawageshik, a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa, is almost single-handedly responsible for the resurgence of interest in Woodland Indian pottery in Michigan. He is not only a potter, he is also a teacher and a resource about Woodland pottery's history and techniques.

For over 3,000 years, people in the Great Lakes area have made clay pots for cooking, ceremonies, and storage. Frank uses the same methods his ancestors used centuries ago, including gathering the necessary poplar wood, clay, granite, basswood, and dried grasses, leaves, and pine needles. To honor the balance between taking and giving, when he takes these things from Mother Earth, he also gives something back to her, usually in the form of tobacco. Frank signs all of his pots with the stick figure of Pipigwa, or sparrow hawk, which is the symbol of his clan.