Birch bark has a wide variety of uses due to its unique nature; it peels off! Some European countries used it as paper! But many tribes used the birch as basket making material.
Similar to the Swedish Easter basket, the basket featured above is woven out of strips of birch bark. After the bark was harvested, it was soaked and then cut into strips with a stone knife. The bark was then scrapped clean and woven tightly together.
While the bark is wet it is considerably more pliable, making it easier to bend and twist the strips. After the basket dries the bark hardens, setting and strengthening the final shape.