kaayd hllngaay skaayxan (Basket)

Basketry filled a vital need as containers for storage domestic use and transportation of goods. Some had multiple uses; others were made for specific functions. After European contact, used for trade and sale items. Forms have been altered to meet European tastes. Basketry making was and is a women's art.

domestic storage; cooking; transport

Walls and lid, 2 ply z-twist. 3 crossed warp bands: a variation in plain twined weave where weaving passes across between points where warps intersect. Rim of basket and lid is 3 ply twining.

Basket base (a) and lid (b) woven from spruce root, circular as viewed from top. The base has warps radiating from the centre. Walls are decorated with a band of open weave, one row of light red in centre bordered by one row of light red on top and two rows of light green on the bottom. Below, as viewed from the inside, is a band consisting of thirteen parallelogram-like shapes in light red, light green, blue and light brown. The rim is reinforced with light green and two light brown wefts with the warps cut off. The lid has warps radiating from a centre point. Decorated with two bands of open weave: the first band has wefts in light red, and the second band has wefts in light red and light green. On the wall of the lid are two bands of dyed strands: light red alternating with natural spruce root, and light red alternating with light green. The lid rim is reinforced in the same manner as the body.