Clara Charlie learned basketweaving as a child from her grandmother at Table Mountain Rancheria in Fresno County. Today, she is well known for her cradleboards, which grandmothers traditionally make for their grandbabies. Charlie is committed to maintaining traditional basketmaking by sharing her knowledge and expertise with other interested Native Americans. Over the years, she has given free classes, demonstrations and presentations in schools and community centers throughout the Valley area, usually without monetary compensation and with little institutional support. She has much to share about when and where to gather plant materials, how to prepare them, and about how to weave.
Already skillful at beading, Jennifer Malone began working with Charlie to learn basketweaving about four years ago. The two, who have known each other for about 20 years, started working together when Malone went with Charlie to learn about gathering plant materials and preparing them. Since then, she has already made a cradleboard of her own and is now ready to learn about other baskets. Like her teacher, Malone is committed to maintaining the basketry tradition. She says, "I plan on making these baskets to be used, like the ones that were made by my ancestors. I also plan to continue doing demonstrations
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