kwelmexwus (Basket)

Coiled basketry traditionally had many uses. It was used for storage of foods, medicines and personal belongings. Some baskets were used for cooking and boiling water, while others had more private uses. Haeberlin and Teit (1928) suggest that in the past not all women were basket makers, but that the skill became more widespread during the early and middle twentieth century when basketry was highly collectible and it became a source of income for many local First Nations women. Basket making declined after the 1950s, but it is still present in many Coast Salish communities and interest is growing.

basketry; economic activity; plant technology

Small rectangular coiled cedar root basket (part a) with parallel wood slat construction and braided rims on both the lid (part b) and the basket (part a). Beading on two rows of the basket (part a) with white grass beaded designs on the top row and diagonal cherry bark designs on the second row. Beaded designs in cherry bark on the lid (part b).