This basket, made using the Cherokee “Fishbone” pattern, is woven from Xeroxed papers rather than, as is traditional, river cane or white oak. The blue paper is a copy of the Cherokee Guiding Principles, a document written by the administration of a tribal hospital in Cherokee, North Carolina. It outlines the core principles that should be “implemented into daily patient care by the hospital staff.” This text is juxtaposed with the reflections in Cherokee syllabary from a current member of that nation, weaving together the two languages used to create this culture of care.

Shan Goshorn was a member of the Eastern Band Cherokee who is primarily known for her baskets which combine Cherokee patterns with text and collage relating to themes of history, family, and belonging. This work was produced the year that Goshorn passed away.

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