| Indian baskets have a unique purpose and | | | | houses and dwellings to protect their |
| place in the culture of Native | | | | items and keep them in order. They also |
| Americans. I love using these baskets in | | | | serve as a means of income for many |
| my home decorating because it is a very | | | | Native American people, and play a |
| easy way to create great southwestern | | | | significant part in Indian events and |
| style in any space. It is interesting | | | | tribal rituals, weddings, honor |
| when you begin reading the history of | | | | ceremonies, and many other Native |
| Native basket making and find that the | | | | events. |
| need for baskets actually started | | | | The variety of Native baskets is endless |
| hundreds of years ago and is one of the | | | | and each Tribe has their own designs and |
| most ancient art forms known in Indian | | | | weave patterns. The Tarahuamara Tribe |
| history. | | | | baskets are very popular and considered |
| Indian baskets, weaved by Tribes like | | | | a true art form. The way these baskets |
| the Apache and Navajo are famous for | | | | are made is truly extraordinary and is |
| their detailed, hand-crafted designs and | | | | very remarkable to watch. |
| interesting styles. As you learn about | | | | The two types of baskets made by this |
| basket making, you will find that in | | | | Tribe are the yucca or sotol as it is |
| most Native American Tribes, it is | | | | also known, and pine needle baskets. |
| usually the women that make the baskets. | | | | Yucca baskets are very popular and come |
| Girls are taught by their mothers when | | | | in many shapes and sizes. Pine baskets |
| they are still children to weave the | | | | are more commonly found in higher |
| intricate designs to create a beautiful | | | | elevations where pine forests are |
| basket. These baskets in turn serve many | | | | abundant, but are smaller than the yucca |
| functions in the daily lives of the | | | | baskets and are more fragile. |
| Native Americans and help the people | | | | One of the beatiful things about Native |
| survive economically. | | | | baskets is that each Tribe has its own |
| One of the reasons baskets are made by | | | | style and weave patterns, creating a |
| the Native people and bought by those | | | | beautiful variety of baskets to choose |
| who wish to incoporate them into the | | | | from. The guari type, the most commonly |
| home decor, is because they are very | | | | used weave among the Tarahumara in the |
| functional. In the beginning, baskets | | | | mountain region of Northern Mexico, is |
| were weaved by Native Americans as a way | | | | curved at the top, somewhat square, and |
| to hold valued items such as food and | | | | consists of four distinct corners at the |
| clothing. Special baskets were even | | | | bottom. |
| tightly weaved to hold water. Hundreds | | | | The petaca is another type of weave used |
| of years ago, Tribes needed to be able | | | | traditionally in the canyon regions, and |
| to potect their belonging while still | | | | is curved and often double woven. |
| being able to transport them quickly in | | | | Sometimes the leaves are run back and |
| case of and attack from another Tribe. | | | | forth on a rough stone to dull the sharp |
| Unlike clay pottery, baskets were | | | | edges before the basket maker starts to |
| long-lasting and would not break. These | | | | weave. |
| days, Tribes still use baskets in their | | | | |