Penny Kagigebi, White Earth Ojibwe (1st generation descendant)

A lifelong resident of Becker County, Penny has always lived on or adjacent to White Earth Reservation in Northwestern Minnesota. This is where she gathers traditional foods, mashkiki-medicine plants as well as materials for making quillboxes.

In 2014, she achieved a tremendous goal to go learn quillwork and quillbox construction from renown Ojibwe artist Melvin Losh. Today Penny makes what she calls “slow art” – durable quillboxes painstakingly produced through uncountable hours and intense attention to detail. She has been told her work demonstrates an ethereal quality, allowing one to hold the sacred beauty of the natural world in the palm of their hand.

Birchbark basketry, ribbon with appliquéd beadwork bags, beaded earrings and appliquéd mural blankets round out her creative work for ceremonial gifting. At all times, Penny’s commitment to the thriving and vibrant lives of her community and relatives push her to learn and pass these teachings on.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/quill.everlasting.1

Contemporary Indigeneity:

https://www.unl.edu/plains/contemporary-indigeneity