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09/12/2026

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Birch Bark Biting with Pat Bruderer (Halfmoon Woman)

The workshop will begin with a presentation exploring the history and cultural significance of birch bark biting, the legacy of renowned artist Angelique Merasty, and Pat’s own learning journey as a practicing artist. Participants will learn techniques and traditions connected to birch bark biting before having the opportunity to create their own designs. Using folded pieces of thin birch bark and biting techniques, attendees will learn how to create intricate symmetrical patterns. This hands-on workshop offers a chance to engage with the traditional art of birch bark biting. This workshop is suitable for beginners. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Header photo: Pat Bruderer, Dragonfly Season, 2022. Birch Bark Biting. Photo Credit: Nelson Museum Archives Gallery

About the Instructor

Pat Bruderer (Halfmoon Woman) is a leading keeper of the rare Indigenous artform of Birch Bark Biting. Self-taught and inspired by the late Angelique Merasty, she has spent more than three decades preserving and sharing this ancient practice, which she calls “Passing a Tradition.” She is a proud member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. Her intricate birch bark designs have been shown internationally and are held in museums, galleries, and private collections. Now based in Winnipeg, she continues to teach, exhibit, and inspire through cultural workshops and exhibitions such as Biting Back Our Cultural Resilience, celebrating the strength and beauty of Indigenous art and knowledge.