Various native plants including deer grass, juncus, sumac, yucca, and willow are used in traditional Kumeyaay basketry, which includes acorn granaries, cooking baskets, plates and bowls. Eva Salazar, who grew up on the San José de la Zorra Reservation in Mexico, has been weaving coiled baskets since she was seven years old. A Kumeyaay from the Campo Reservation, Nancy Cuero has more recently started basket weaving and is ready to move beyond the basics of plain basket weaving to include designs in her baskets. Gathering and preparing materials for weaving are important aspects of this apprenticeship, during which the apprentice plans to make two coiled baskets, one flat and the other a bowl.
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Apprentice Nancy Cuero holding a granary with lid that she has just made out of willow switches. Natural properties of the willow prevent rodents and insects from entering and eating the acorns that are stored in the basket. (April 2002)
Photo courtesy of Mary MacGregor-Villarreal |
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Photo by Dugan Aguilar, courtesy of Eva Salazar |
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Photo by Stephen Simpson Inc., 1996, courtesy of Eva Salazar |
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