Terrol Dew Johnson, Black widow spider tray
Terrol Dew Johnson
1973-2024
Tohono O'odham
Date
1996
Classification
Basket
Dimensions
12 1/2 x 12 1/2 x 2 in. (31.8 x 31.8 x 5.1 cm)
Accession Number
2018.35.35.111
Credit
Gift of Carol and Don Tallman
Biography
Terrol Dew Johnson (b.Apr 12, 1971-d.May 8, 2024) is Tohono O'odham from Sells, Arizona. Johnson began weaving at the age of ten. Johnson uses plant materials historically used by his tribe in his work in experimental weaves, forms, and techniques. His materials include bear grass, yucca, devil's claw, and gourds. He is most known for his gourd baskets, in which pieces of the gourd are cut away and the negative space is filled with finely woven bear grass.
Johnson co-founded Tohono O'odham Community Action (TOCA) in 1996. The nonprofit community development organization operates a basketry cooperative, farms, and sells indigenous foods. TOCA's Tohono O'odham Community Food System provided tribal members with aboriginal desert foods to combat the disease and promote health and sustainability.
TOCA has received widespread recognition. For his efforts with TOCA, Johnson was named one of the top ten community leaders in 1999 by the Do Something organization. The US President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities gave TOCA the Coming Up Taller Award in 2001. In 2002, both Johnson and co-founder Tristian Reader won the Ford Foundation's Leadership for a Changing World Award.[1] In 2011, Johnson was named a White House Food Security "Champion of Change" for his work renewing indigenous food sovereignty.
In 2013, TOCA launched a national magazine covering the community organizing, culinary innovation, and cultural significance of Native American foods. Johnson is the publisher and a significant contributor to the production of the magazine. The magazine and its Facebook page have been central to the Native Food Sovereignty movement, of which Johnson is a part. He is a founding board member of the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance (NAFSA).
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrol_Dew_Johnson, 2020)
Johnson co-founded Tohono O'odham Community Action (TOCA) in 1996. The nonprofit community development organization operates a basketry cooperative, farms, and sells indigenous foods. TOCA's Tohono O'odham Community Food System provided tribal members with aboriginal desert foods to combat the disease and promote health and sustainability.
TOCA has received widespread recognition. For his efforts with TOCA, Johnson was named one of the top ten community leaders in 1999 by the Do Something organization. The US President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities gave TOCA the Coming Up Taller Award in 2001. In 2002, both Johnson and co-founder Tristian Reader won the Ford Foundation's Leadership for a Changing World Award.[1] In 2011, Johnson was named a White House Food Security "Champion of Change" for his work renewing indigenous food sovereignty.
In 2013, TOCA launched a national magazine covering the community organizing, culinary innovation, and cultural significance of Native American foods. Johnson is the publisher and a significant contributor to the production of the magazine. The magazine and its Facebook page have been central to the Native Food Sovereignty movement, of which Johnson is a part. He is a founding board member of the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance (NAFSA).
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrol_Dew_Johnson, 2020)
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