tourism

When Lorena Langley was very young, her father died leaving the mother to raise seven children. Their log cabin sat deep in the woods, half a mile from their nearest neighbor, five miles from Elton, Louisiana. The family kept chickens and hogs. And, like generations of Coushatta Indians before her, Lorena Langley's mother wove beautiful baskets of pine needles, split cane, and moss to trade for food and other necessities.

Lorena and her siblings spent their days gathering basket materials. Some of them would help with the weaving. Early on Lorena showed talent for the delicate, precise work of traditional basket weaving — an art requiring both patience and a sculptor's sense for form.

Every month or two, her aunt and cousin would take the baskets to Alexandria in a horse-drawn wagon and trade them for rice, potatoes, field peas, corn, or, occasionally, money. "My first basket sold for seven cents," she smiles. "But that was a long time ago. I started weaving when I was 3 or 4 years old."

That was more than fifty years ago. Today, Lorena Langley is still working magic with her fingers subtly shaping and shading as she weaves. Next to her, at another table, one of her sons is making baskets, too, working carefully and caringly.

Our rich cultural heritage is a source of strength and pride for each and every one of us. The Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, and the Louisiana Press Association are pleased to present this series highlighting those who make a vital contribution.