By Jeff Peters
Catholic Herald correspodent

Quilting tradition continues at St. Francis Solanus

RESERVE --With each delicate stitch, Agnes LaRonge is helping to preserve the past and brighten the future of the St. Francis Solanus Catholic School near Hayward.

Each morning LaRonge, who is in her eighties, spends an average of five hours carefully hand sewing the beautiful quilts that have become a trademark of the historic St. Francis Solanus Indian Mission on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation in Sawyer County.

The quilts, made by LaRonge and other tribal members, are sold at the mission's gift shop to raise money for the grade school.

It is a major source of fund raising. Sr. Felissa Zander, SSSF, who has been at the mission since 1961 and is the school principal, said, "People just love these quilts because they are so unique."

Zander added, "Many of the quilts have a Native American theme with the designs created by tribal members. The quilts are very individual to the person making the quilt."

LaRonge, who works in the basement of the school, said she enjoys helping the school and keeping the quilt-making tradition alive. "There used to be a lot more women doing this work," she said.

Working on a double wedding ring quilt that will take her almost a month to finish, LaRonge said, "This is a good pastime for me. It gets me out of the house in the morning. And when I am done working, I'm just as glad to go back home."

LaRonge, a life-long St. Francis Solanus Parish member who also attended the school in her youth, has been making quilts since 1975. "You have to have a lot of patience for this work, but I enjoy helping the school and being around the kids."

Zander said the gift shop -- which also features a wide variety of Native American arts and crafts made by tribal members -- is open throughout the year. "We are open all day, every day, all year long unless we are in church. I sometimes make our biggest sales at night when a group may visit the mission."

The shop, which is located in the school, has been in operation since the 1920s. Zander said it is wonderful public relations for tribal members and the school. "We are known throughout the country for our Ojibwa artwork. The workmanship of these items is really great and gives local artists a chance to showcase their work."

Eighth grader Kacheri Smith, 13, hopes to keep the quilting tradition alive. "The quilts are real cool because they are so beautiful. I like to sew, so its fun to work on the quilts. Mrs. LaRonge taught me how to stitch," she said, and added, "Sometimes we make our own designs, and we also follow traditional patterns. It's a good thing to keep our Ojibwa heritage alive."

Smith also enjoys making Native American beadwork while at school, as does classmate Samantha Fleming, 13. "I learned my beadwork from my grandmother and from Sr. Felissa. I love making Indian dancing dresses for the pow-wows. It's good to do this work because its part of our culture," Fleming said.

The school children's beadwork, which includes colorful bracelets, belts, earrings and berets, is also featured in the gift shop.

St. Francis Solanus is on County Trunk E in the Village of Reserve on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation near Hayward. Their phone number is 715-865-3662.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2002