BASKET MAKING AND THEIR SPIRITUALITY

MOST NATIVE AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA HAVE MADE BASKETS FOR MILLENIA. THEY ARE SOMETHING THAT IS SPIRITUAL AND THE WOMEN BELIEVED THAT CERTAIN BASKETS HAD HEALING PROPERTIES. THEY MADE BASKETS THAT HAD A DAU IN THEM OR AN IMPERFECTION. THE WOMEN WERE TAUGHT THIS CRAFT FROM WHEN THEY WERE ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD. THEY USED WILLOWS, SEDGEROOT, AND REDBUD ROOTS TO WEAVE ATTRACTIVE BASKETS. THEY TRADED WITH THE SOUTHEAST POMO TO GET THEIR REDBUD. THEY USED COILING AND TWINING TECHNIQUES TO WEAVE BASKETS FOR BABIES, UTENSILS, AND FOR WEDDING DOWRIES, AS WELL AS FOR COLLECTING SEEDS AND FOR MAKING ACORN SOUP.