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Tuscarora WoodWorks Celebrates 10 Years in Business

Tuscarora WoodWorks Celebrates 10 Years in Business

Tuscarora WoodWorks has made it to a decade in business! We are incredibly grateful to all our customers across Turtle Island who have shown us unwavering support, every step of the way. Your trust and loyalty have enabled us to pursue our passion for Haudenosaunee art and craft, and we couldn't have done it without you. As we look back at the past ten years, we are filled with appreciation for all of the memories and opportunities we've been afforded. We are also deeply moved by the support you've shown us, especially during the past two years, as we navigated through the pandemic. From the bottom of our hearts, we say nyà:wę!

Our business has been operating for a decade, and we specialize in Haudenosaunee Art and Craft. Our tagline, Art. Craft. Community, perfectly encapsulates what we stand for, which is the intersection of our culture and heritage with our craft.

Our logo is a symbol of the values we hold dear. It is derived from the Dust Fan Belt, also known as the Ever Growing Tree Belt, which carries deep cultural significance for our people. The purple beads forming a White Pine Tree in the belt represent the Tree of Peace, a powerful symbol of the Haudenosaunee's vitality and the unity achieved through the formation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

The belt's second meaning comes from its other name, the Dust Fan/Wing Belt. It depicts a bird's wing that is used to sweep away any metaphoric dust that may cloud decision-making. Wampum belts, like the Dust Fan Belt, are sometimes brought out during council meetings to remind those present of the decision-making decorum that has been used for hundreds of years. They are guidelines used to make the right decisions based on predetermined principles agreed upon by our ancestors.

Our logo is made of three parts: the top of the tree represents our Art, which is how we express ourselves. The middle represents our Craft: how we sustain ourselves, and the bottom represents our Community, the basis and foundation for all we do. This logo reflects the deep connection between our craft and community, and we are honored to carry on this tradition.

We take immense pride in creating custom pieces that honor our traditions and history. Our specialties include Tuscarora beadwork, digital art, and custom apparel, in addition to creating custom pieces such as awards, plaques, and trophies. We are deeply committed to our community and strive to give back in every way possible. We are particularly proud of our support for Nęyękwawętaʔθkwáhshek, the Tuscarora Language Program, which is working tirelessly to revitalize our language through immersion programs.

Our business has created work for all Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and we have shipped our creations worldwide. We feel honored that our work is recognized and appreciated across the globe. We have a deep love for our craft and a profound commitment to sharing our culture through our art.

In addition to our custom work, we are privileged to be involved in the lacrosse community, creating custom pieces for the Haudenosaunee Nationals, the Buffalo Bandits, and others. Lacrosse has deep roots in our culture, and we are honored to contribute to this tradition. We believe that our business is not only about crafting stunning works of art but also about sharing our heritage and honoring our community.

At Tuscarora WoodWorks, we have created a cultural hub on the Tuscarora Nation. Our store is a welcoming place that showcases our own creations, as well as the work of other local artists. We are proud to create beautiful custom trophies and personalized plaques for lacrosse teams and organizations. In addition to our core offerings, we have expanded to include categories like home decor, beading supplies, handmade soaps, and candles, to name a few. Haudenosaunee designs and emblems adorn most of our creations, and we take pride in representing our culture in every piece we produce.

Tuscarora WoodWorks was founded in 2013 by Robert D'Alimonte, Tuscarora Beaver. As a self-taught artist, Robert sees creating as a way of keeping our culture and his family's memory alive. His craftsmanship and innovative thinking are evident in displays like the one he made for Nicholas Cusick's 1793 Peace Medal from George Washington, which was obtained by the Chickasaw Nation and returned to the Tuscarora Nation. Robert feels a kinship to his maternal grandfather, Stan Hill, who revived the Haudenosaunee practice of carving bone and antlers.

At Tuscarora WoodWorks, we have always believed that art and community go hand-in-hand. A few years after founding the business, we were fortunate enough to welcome Murisa Printup, Tuscarora Turtle, as a partner, in business and in life. Murisa comes from a family of well-known artists, including painters, sculptors, and bead workers. Her artistic beauty can be seen throughout the store, where she creates one-of-a-kind illustrations that tell a meaningful story.

One of Murisa's most cherished designs is a coffee mug that features the likeness of her grandmother, "Nan," who is considered one of Tuscarora's most beloved Elders. The mug reflects a part of the Haudenosaunee creation story and illustrates why we use the term "Grandmother Moon." We believe that each creation we produce should tell a story and reflect the values of our community.

At Tuscarora WoodWorks, we believe in giving back to our community whenever we can. That's why we try to stay involved in community events and have hosted many art classes in our storefront. When called upon, we always try our best to donate our time or resources to those in need or a cause that aligns with our values. We are also proud to support Murisa's love for cats. She has taken in many strays, and we have used our storefront as a donation center for cat and dog food.

At Tuscarora WoodWorks, we're not just about creating beautiful art and crafts. We also believe in providing the best possible experience for our customers. Building strong relationships with those who visit our business is crucial to us, and we strive to do so every day. Our clients come from a variety of backgrounds and locations, but they all have one thing in common: they are happy customers who keep coming back.

We began building our clientele through word of mouth, and our returning customers are a testament to the quality of our work and the relationships we've built with them. At Tuscarora WoodWorks, we know that our success depends on the satisfaction of our customers, and we're committed to ensuring that everyone who visits our storefront or shops online has an exceptional experience.

If you're interested in our custom works, please feel free to contact us at info@tuscarorawoodworks.com. Our works are perfect for many types of events, including weddings, receptions, retirement parties, speaker series, and presenter gifts. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Tuscarora WoodWorks, and we look forward to serving you over the next decade!

Special thanks to Beth Rickard, Tuscarora Deer, from www.fncopywriter.com for her contributions to this article.

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Feb 20th 2023 Tuscarora WoodWorks

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