Northwoods Craft Q&A WITH LUCY SODERSTROM OF ELY FOLK SCHOOL Q: Why do you think it’s important to preserve traditional crafts and skills? A: Preserving and learning traditional crafts and skills is one of our main modes to preserving culture. It maintains identity and uniqueness in a world of globalization. It’s a way for us to share connection with one another and to promote our values to the world. Q: What role does Ely Folk School play in protecting or reviving these skills? A: We offer many learning experiences in traditional skills and craft. Our instructors are passionate and have often learned from elders and family passed down over the years. The Ely Folk School collects these stories, recipes, memories, and practices. We archive them in our class resource catalogue and spread them through oral storytelling and learning in our programming. Q: How does this hands-on learning connect people more deeply to the land, and each other? A: Our programs focus on knowing where our materials and products come from and why we use them. By going through the process of harvesting bark, making cheese, or milling clay — we get a deeper understanding of the value, time, and sentiment that goes into each product we utilize or consume. We can feel more connected to the materials that go into it, the places they came from, and the people who create them.
Q: Are there any particular skills that are seeing a big resurgence? A: Our most popular youth classes are our sewing classes!
Q: Why do you think Ely is a good place for this kind of teaching and learning to happen? A: Ely is full of people with strong cultural ties and an even stronger commitment to living in harmony and deep respect with the land and people and culture around them. Q: What are some of the most meaningful classes or experiences you’ve offered in recent years? A: Some of our most powerful classes are our heritage cooking classes. For example, potica is a Slovenian pastry made for celebrations - Christmas, Easter, birthdays, funerals. We have classes focused on making potica using a traditional Ely family recipe. Many students find the classes unexpectedly emotional, having always wished they’d learned from their grandmothers while they were kids. Q: What do you hope someone gets out of being part of this type of learning with your organization? A willingness to try something for the first time. A recognition that we’ll learn best by asking for stories and lessons from the people around us.
Lucy Soderstrom is the Executive Director of Ely Folk School . Her favorite EFS class is Joan Hunn’s ‘Dyeing with Buckthorn’, and her favorite area gatherings are the Ely Marathon and the annual EFS Thanksgiving Potluck.
Click here to browse Ely Folk School classes and events, happening year-round!
ELY, MN ARTS & CULTURE JOURNAL
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