Overview Legend Times Daily Life Transport and Trade Contact and Change All Image Gallery
Bag - NEPE 1955
Basket - NEPE CD 72 Basket - NEPE 34099
Weavers left identifying markers in their bag - a flaw that would stand out in their work, because Haniyawáxt (the Creator) was the only one that created perfection.
Ida Blackeagle, Nimiipuu weaver
There is a long tradition of woven baskets among the peoples of the Columbia Plateau. In 1805, Lewis and Clark received berries and roots in woven baskets. Widely used in most households, baskets were used for gathering, storage, and for transportation. They were made in winter, after spring and summer food-gathering and processing activities were over.

Reservation life limited access to wetlands where raw materials had always been gathered. Commercial fibers such as cornhusk, wool and cotton twine replaced gathered materials. These were available at first through trade, and then in general stores. Weavers made flat twined cornhusk bags and round 'sally' bags from cornhusk, wool, and cotton twine. They also made coiled baskets decorated by imbrication

Artists created woven masterpieces featuring complex geometric designs, as well as animals and figures. Cornhusk bags carried different designs on each side. Some designs came as an inspiration to the maker; others were an expression of something they had seen in nature. Makers also created designs to fit the interest or character of the person for whom the basket was being made.





Basket - NEPE 135 Cornhusk bag - NEPE 142 Cornhusk bag - NEPE 1929 Bag - NEPE 1935 Bag - NEPE 1936 Cornhusk Bag - NEPE 1938 Cornhusk bag - NEPE 1939 Cornhusk bag - NEPE 1944 Bag - NEPE 1950
Cornhusk Bag - NEPE 1953 Bag - NEPE 6988 Belt Pouch - NEPE 6990 Cornhusk bag - NEPE 8872 Cornhusk bag - NEPE 8888 Basket - NEPE 33930 Basket - NEPE 34205 Basket - NEPE 34222 Basket - NEPE 34233
Basket with Lid - NEPE 34572 Hat - NEPEcd74-2