Western Mono Basketry
Gladys McKinney and Ruby Vargas
When she was only fourteen, Gladys Dick McKinney began learning basketweaving techniques from her grandmother, Annie Charley. Her mother, Juanita Dick, taught her how to identify plants. Gladys gathered food and basket material with her mother and grandmother as a child in Dunlap.
There is strenuous work involved in gathering, cleaning, stripping and preparing the materials. Gladys says, "Basketmaking teaches you patience above all else.... Then you will have patience with your children, your students and those who don't understand. Your rewards come through continuing the tradition."
Gladys and her apprentice, Ruby Vargas, have been friends for over 25 years. During this apprenticeship, they will be going out to gather and clean sour berry, chaparral, and red bud sticks in Kings Canyon throughout the spring and summer, and then weave these materials throughout the fall and winter.
Apprentice Ruby Vargas says, "I have deep feelings for the baskets. To me, they remind me of life. I see the people in the baskets. They are the living, breathing, things that shall remain forever, for my grandchildren to see and enjoy, for my family to know we will always be here. I shall teach the young women in my family to gather, clean, and make baskets as the elders before me. And I shall leave this heritage for my family."
When she was only fourteen, Gladys Dick McKinney began learning basketweaving techniques from her grandmother, Annie Charley. Her mother, Juanita Dick, taught her how to identify plants. Gladys gathered food and basket material with her mother and grandmother as a child in Dunlap. 
Apprentice Ruby Vargas says, "I have deep feelings for the baskets. To me, they remind me of life. I see the people in the baskets. They are the living, breathing, things that shall remain forever, for my grandchildren to see and enjoy, for my family to know we will always be here. I shall teach the young women in my family to gather, clean, and make baskets as the elders before me. And I shall leave this heritage for my family."