The basketry of the Yokut Indians
BASKET DESIGNS
In the basketry of the Yokut
Indians of Central California, one can see the incredibly masterful weaving skill
which the Yokut basket weavers developed over centuries from generation to younger
generation. The stitchery in a Yokut Indian basket was so tight that the basket
could hold water as is evident in the cooking baskets.
In the making of a Yokut Indian basket, the Indians used local plants for the basic material. Sedge grass root was used for the buff color, braken fern was used for the black accents of the basket's design and redbud shoots were used for the basket's red accents. To help with the stitching, Yokut Indian basket weavers used and awl carved out of a split deer leg bone
The colorful designs of a Yokut Indian basket were rich in imagery and meaning to the Indians. Many of the different designs were patterns found in nature such as deer feet, deer tracks, rattlesnake patterns, and human figures.
To return to the Basket Exhibit's Front
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For more details about the Sanger Depot Museum, call Bob Bosserman at:
TEL: (559)875-2848
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