Growing Bloodroot at Home: Empowering Cherokee Basket Makers to Grow Their Own Bloodroot for Dye

Traditional Cherokee basket makers use bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) to make dye. They reported that has become difficult to find bloodroot growing naturally in the woods. This project was designed to assist the basket makers to grow bloodroot at their homes by providing bloodroot growing kits and training in 2013. Working through the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc. we provide training and knowledge exchange with its members, the high school basketry classes, and the Oconaluftee Institute for Cultural Arts, funded by the Revitalization for Traditional Cherokee Artisan Resources.