Fibrenet - Who

Main | $ponsors | Fundraising | Volunteers
Artists/Community Groups | Elders and Teachers
Main Fundraising Page | Community Outreach Stage
Gathering Stage | Processing Stage | Creation Stage
Exhibit & Display Stage | Ceremonial Celebration Stage

There are Six Phases of Development Toward the Completion of the Project:

(Previous to these stages, admin. and project set-up ran from February to the Blessing Ceremony at the Museum of Northern BC, on May 14, 1998)


Community Outreach Stage:
    The keepers of this knowledge are getting older. This project will preserve their knowledge before it is lost.
  • To create community interest and gather knowledge of how to make a stinging nettle net.
  • To build ties with community groups and form a team to make the net.

Gathering Stage:
  • To co-ordinate gathering teams of Elders, youth, and volunteers.
  • Teams will go to mapped areas to gather stinging nettle plants.

Processing Stage:
  • Nettle fibres will be processed and spun by Elders, youth, and volunteers.
    Roughly, the nettles will be soaked in running water until the husks are soft, then they will be beaten and the fibres separated into a working thread. Rubbing the threads on your leg will create twine. This twine will be used to make the net.

Creation Stage:
  • The net will be made, ("hung" is the net mender's term), at North Pacific Cannery Village Museum.
  • Traditional style floaters and weights will complete the net.

Exhibit & Display Stage:
  • The exhibit will be designed and constructed under the guidance of Susan Marsden, Curator of the Museum of Northern British Columbia.
  • The Exhibit will be at North Pacific and will include: the net, a multimedia display with a touch screen, audio and visual displays.

Ceremonial Celebration Stage:
  • The net will be used once ceremonially before the celebration.
  • There will be a Traditional First Nations Feast to celebrate the completion of the net.

Areas of the project that run throughout:
  • 'FibreNet' website design, construction, and additions.
  • School District 52, video for schools (footage to be edited into museum-quality video).
  • Document and record Elders' stories.
  • Ecotrust Canada, administration and fiscal agent.
  • Henry Green, Tsimshian artist, makes traditional tools, floats & weights.
  • First Nations Ceremonies (includes dance, songs, and blessings).
  • Artists work with Community Groups to create a new network of community ties.