Laurel Sanders has a Norwegian/Sami background, but also has lived for a long time alongside Native Americans. She has children with an Ojibwe man and has lived on reservations in the Duluth area with her Native family. Laurel enjoys fiber arts and using crafts to connect with her heritage. She has learned crafts in a variety of ways: self-instruction, classes through organizations like the Sami Cultural Center, and learning from others, particularly as with some of the Ojibwe crafts she does, which she learned from Native women. Sanders is featured in Sallie Anna Steiner Pisera’s book chapter, “‘A Growing Art’: Traditional Arts and Heritage Rediscovery in Northern Minnesota Scandinavian Communities.” in Culture Work: Folklore for the Public Good published by University of Wisconsin Press in 2022. Sanders and her daughter Giizh (Sarah) Agaton Howes received a 2023-2024 American Scandinavian Foundation Folk Arts & Cultural Traditions in the Upper Midwest grant to study band weaving. Sanders was also featured in the “Leading with our Hearts” exhibit, discussed in this webinar by Vesterheim Museum.
Fieldwork conducted by Sallie Anna Pisera with support from the Minnesota State Arts Board.