TAPE LOG BETTY DUPREE

Transcription

1 c SOHP Series: Women's Leadership and Grassroots Activism TAPE LOG BETTY DUPREE Interviewee: Interviewer: Interview Date: Location: Tape No.: Topic: Subject Headings: Comments: Betty DuPree, Director, Qualla Arts & Crafts Alicia J. Rouverol March 16, 1996 Qualla Arts & Crafts office, Cherokee, NC BD.l (cassette 1 of 1) An oral history interview with Betty DuPree, Director of Qualla Arts & Crafts, in Cherokee, NC. Qualla Arts & Crafts has been in existence for over fifty years, and is one of the most successful cooperatives of its kind in the country. This interview focuses on the formation of Qualla and her role in the organization, as well as the role of crafts in Cherokee culture and identity. women's leadership; grassroots activism; Cherokee culture; Qualla Arts & Crafts; cooperatives; basketry; Lottie Stamper; gender roles in craft making; Bureau of Indian Affairs. Only text in quotation in verbatim; all other text is paraphrased, including the interviewer's questions. Note: Below is a topical index to the interview. Counter numbers listed are approximate only. TOPICAL INDEX 022 [Opening Announcement] 047 Formation of Qualla around 1946; Joe Jennings; has lists of people who joined early on 099 If it hadn't been for Qualla, wouldn't be as many crafts; crafts central as income; Qualla is always there when the craftspeople come formation; incorporation in early '50s; these were hard times, people coming back from the War 150 The early buildings; taking tourists on a tour; "I don't think anybody ever dreamed that it would grow to what it has." 171 Indian Reorganization Act before her times; but they did teach arts & crafts in school; Lottie Stamper taught basketry, one of the most noted 190 A training program; she made baskets in the 7 th or 8 th grade; Lottie Stamper would take them out, they would dig bloodroot; Lottie Stamper's teaching

2 2 219 Jennings hope may have been farm coop; they had several shops; 1960 their current building was built; they borrowed $50,000 from the tribe; when she arrived in 1972, they spoke ofexpanding 249 Current membership 400; Board of Directors elected 259 The process of expanding, securing funding, borrowing money from the bank; they had to have matching funds to get Bureau of Indian Affairs money 290 Matching funds, the bank loan; paid early, didn't owe a penny after that on the building 310 Built gallery w/ $ 100,000; they paid off in 3 years 323 She came there in 1971; the building was renovated in Decision making process on building; blueprints developed in Albuquerque; revising of blueprints by herself and board members, including Mollie Blankenship and others, taking their ideas to local architects 367 A joint effort in the revising of blueprints; a board member made a model of it, which they still have 378 "He put it out on bids, just like big time people"; the bidding process; the only concern majority of the craftspeople had was whether the building would affect the dividends 394 Dividends/membership: "With Qualla our members are our business"; she answers to the board, but the members own the business 405 The process of the buying from craftspeople; financial arrangements with the craftspeople 429 Examples of dividends 438 Pricing process [prices a beadwork barrette] 442 Describes process of pricing a barrette 451 Shows example of one of the craftspeople; members retaining earnings 471 Craftspeople get paid when they arrive; buying on Wednesday through Saturday 485 Assistant who is in training at Qualla [Melanie] 494 Most craftspeople are women; some men are craftsmen: "I don't know why it got to be more women. I always say the Cherokees have a real good system where the women do all the work. My husband wasn't a Cherokee but he sort of believed in that too. [Laughs.] But the men help a lot." Men's role in basketmaking. 524 Different crafts men do (woodcarving, etc.); men and women do pottery; some women do sanding for their husbands: "It's all going to the same place"; how they all contribute 538 Markets: all 50 states, 30 foreign countries; not many from Bryson County; doesn't discourage people from selling outside of Qualla; Qualla doesn't buy all, she knows what they need; they don't buy as much in summer. November-April she doesn't turn anything down, because they need it; but she does tell people if she needs them to slow down production 566 Other challenges: buying; storage space; baskets are big items; Eva Wolfe, Rowena Bradley, Carol Welch, she buys all their work 580 "The store comes first... This store takes care of all of us... Save our money for winter. And they do."

3 3 588 [End of Side A; Side B begins] 033 She encourages some craftspeople to go to other stores in the summer; not always quality; she tries to buy from them in winter 055 [Cuts a check for a craftsperson] 066 Definition of quality: "The very best that they can do... You don't have to send it home but one time... And, of course, then I'll feel real bad, and I usually help them pay their power bill... try to help them out." 095 Members: all are Cherokee or from another federally-recognized tribe if they're married to an enrolled member of the Eastern Band; her husband was one of those; Arch Miller is a Western Cherokee; Wilbur Paul, Blackfoot 111 Crafts from other tribes; selling of turquoise jewelry; during World's Fair decision to buy from other tribes, preferably other coops; had some flack from other tribe members; how these products are profit for other members 142 Range of crafts, 45 miles away 145 Types of crafts: basketry, pottery, wood carvings, beads 152 How Qualla compares: "We're the best in the nation and we'll fight you if you disagree." 155 Maine Basketmakers Alliance; Quill's success due to no tribal politics: "Indian politics are just s bad as White Man politics." Quill's relationship with the tribe; value of a strong board; by-laws; board did hiring and firing of personnel; she changed that 188 [Broke for lunch, SW style enchiladas made by Betty] 194 Discussion of other cooperatives; many have not survived; went to Mississippi and saw the Choctaw's coop; Qualla isn't a tribal enterprise; payment of tribal levy 222 They get requests to start coops; she doesn't know whether it would work anymore; 50 years ago people were desperate 234 Relationships with other cooperatives; Qualla is generous with her time 239 [Baby and mother come to visit; they talk while Betty approves another check cutting] 257 Betty tries to assist other coops; have had some come up from the Seminole tribe 270 [Melanie brings in check book and leaves] 271 Her trip to the NW, Vancouver Island; she didn't feel she did that much for them 302 Local competition: "Good competition doesn't hurt you..." Some businesses won't pass their name along; she sends people to other stores

4 4 317 Joe Wolfe and Peggy; a struggling shop; they send business to them 329 Prices: $4 and up 338 How crafts would have gone out if it weren't for Qualla being there 350 Passing down of crafts from mother to daughter; good quote about how many women decide to go into it; many of the young women want the same price as their mother's 3 62 Influence of Qualla on basketmaking 365 Promoting of pieces; use of tags to learn more about the craft/craftsperson; includes photo of artist and bio; NCAC (North Carolina Arts Council) support for this; enclosure card stating its from Qualla 389 Link between crafts work and tribal identity; Qualla plays a role in encouraging traditional uses; quality control; they pay less attention to commercial dyes. 405 Role of craft for artist and identity; alongside economic, there is pride in their work 420 Customers come in and they introduce customers if artists are there 425 Staff: 8 right now; 15 in summer 427 Response to customers: the young people who work there take increasing interest; she gives them reading material 441 Her work learned through trial and error; came to Qualla because she needed a job; they had just returned from New Mexico 445 Story of how she wanted to remodel her kitchen; about her husband's response to her trying to get a job; heard of job at Qualla; wrote Mac Ross; has been here 24 years 470 If she knew then what she knew now, might not have done it; it was trial and error, common sense, which helped 484 Ordered her stove and refrigerator when she heard she got the job 489 What she's contributed: growth; they've made money 491 She was born and raised here; her parents were not active in crafts; she made them in class; everyone thinks she's a potter; "I don't do anything, but I can sell anything the others can make." Her business sense from her father; mother "ding-a-ling"; she married young; husband worked for Bureau of Indian Affairs; she budgeted money he made; thinks that helped train 516 She's more careful w/ Qualla's money than her own; almost 67 years old and a widow 525 She was away for 17 years, lived in AZ, NM, CO; her husband transferred back to be principal of elementary school in 1970

5 5 528 Worked at Indian crafts shop in NM; learned a lot from the fellow she worked for there, spent 5 years in the job; she lived with other Indian tribes 535 Moving out there; how because she was a redhead folks thought she was "spider woman"; story about her experience at a "dude ranch" 540 Experience of going out there; they went where the paycheck was; she had 2 boys; difficulties in adjusting to being out there; going out to CA where her he in-laws were; professionally "a good move"; still goes out to see friends there; they moved around a lot with the Bureau of Indian Affairs; her husband was a counselor first, then a principal; lived with Ute Indians, also Navajo 568 Moved to CO after Navajo reservation: "I just thought that's what you did... I've often thought, what if we'd never gone out there?" 580 How the move affected her, was never close to her mother: "I guess I was kind of adventurous..." Driving out to CA; good for her kids to have different experiences; her daughter born in Flagstaff, went to Catholic school for a couple of years and then public school. 601 [End of Interview]