Ronni-leigh Goeman (Guynehgwenta)

Haudenausaunee

Ononadaga Nation / Eel Clan

“When I weave a basket I share the living past of my people.  I am able to pass on a traditional art form as well as stories of those who came before, intertwining the past, present and future.”

-Ronnie-Leigh Goeman

 Ronnie-Leigh Goeman grew up on the Onondaga Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy located in the Upstate New York.  As a young girl she became intrigued with the art of basket making and began making baskets as a teenager.  As she grew older many Traditional Iroquois women who taught her the importance of balancing old traditions with individuality influenced her work.  One of these women, Mae Big Tree, a renowned basket maker from the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation became her mentor.

 Although Ronnie-Leigh uses traditional Iroquois methods of basket making she has evolved and elevated her art to another level, in that she collaborates and incorporates the work of Stonehorse Goeman who sculpts the bases for the baskets, thus creating “basket sculpture.”  All the basket sculptures are inspired and based on Iroquois culture and tradition.  Each basket is elaborately woven, using ash, sweet grass and embellished with moose hair and quill.  The elaborate weaving and incorporation of sculpture creates a unique one of a kind presentation of “Iroquois basket sculpture.” 

Her artistry has earned her honors in Native American Art Forms.  She has garnered awards in contemporary, traditional and mixed media basket making in prestigious shows such as ; Santa Fe Indian Market, Eiteljong, Heard and Heard Basket Show, Schemitzun, and Indigenous Peoples Market/Saginaw Chippewa.  Collectors through out the United States and Europe have purchased her baskets. 

Ronnie-Leigh presently resides at the Onondaga Nation with her family.  She has accomplished a B.S. Degree Psychology, an M.S. in Education and an M.S.W. in Clinical Social Work.  She has shown that it is possible to maintain a balance between traditional and contemporary lifestyle.  While at home she divides her time making baskets with other traditional Iroquois Art forms.

 Most Recent Awards 2004       

Heard Indian Market                                                   Eiteljorg Indian Market 

Best of Division/First Place                                               June 2004

Contemporary Basket                                                  First Place-Mixed Media

                                                                                    (Collaboration with Stonehorse)

Santa Fe Indian Market                                           Zibiwing-Indigenous Peoples

     August 2004                                                                  October 2004

Mixed Media (Collaboration with Stonehorse)        First Place-Contemporary Basket

Second Place-Contemporary Basket                         First Place Traditional Basket