THE ART OF BASKETRY

THROUGHOUT LIFE MANY TRIBES HERE WOVE INTRICATE BASKETS INCLUDING HATS .  IN A POMO LEGEND MARUNDA CREATED THE WORLD FOR PLANTS USED IN BASKETRY.  THEY ORIGINALLY HAD A LOT OF RAW MATERIALS AND THE WOMEN MADE BASKETS FOR ALL PURPOSES.  KUBURN IS THE TERM FOR RAW MATERIALS.  THE MEN MADE WILLOW BASKETS FOR THE INFANTS.

BASKET MAKING WAS SIMILAR IN MANY TRIBES. ALL TRIBES USED TURNING AND OR COILING.THEY WOVE BASKETS SEATED WITH ASPHALT UM OR PINE PITCH.  THEY EVEN USED BASKETS FOR CATCHING ANIMALS.  SOME EVEN MADE PRIZED GIFT BASKETS.

EVEN THE YOKUT NATIVES MADE DETAILED DECORATED BASKETS MADE FROM REDBUD, SEDGE, WILLOW AND QUAIL FEATHERS.  ALL TRIBES CONSIDERED TO BE SPIRITUAL.  THEY CONSIDERED THE BASKETS TO BE ALIVE.

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THEY USED GRASS STALKS AND REEDS USED FOR DESIGNING.  THE POMO ALSO USED REEDS IN THE NORTH MADE BASKETS FOR COLLECTING ROOTS, SEEDS, AND NUTS.  THEY MADE A PADDLE OF REDBUD AND WILLOW AND USED A BASKET TO COLLECT TARWEED, AN IMPORTANT SEED.  POMO MADSE LARGE TWINED BURDEN BASKETS ON THEIR BACKS TO COLLECT ACORNS AND SEEDS. 

THE WOMEN POUNDED ACORNS IN AN OAK DISH AND THEN THEY LEACHED THEM IN A LARGE BASIN IN THE SAND.  SOME WOMEN LEACHED THEM IN SHALLOW OAK MADE FROM TUBS.  SOME WOMEN USED LARGE WOVEN BASKETS WITH HEATED  STONES TO COOK MUSH.  MANY BASKETS WERE  BURNT FROM STONES.  THEY MADE FEATHERED BASKETS ALSO.

MOST NATIVES WOVE BASKETS FROM VARIOUS REEDS AND MANY FOLKS USED DIFFERENT TYPES OF BASKETS FOR GIFTS, CEREMONIES AND UTENSILS.

VIRGINIA ALEXANDRIA