sitən (Basket)

Used daily to harvest shellfish and carry fish, this burden basket is an example of Indigenous womenÔÇÖs basketry proficiency from the late 19th century. The inside of this basket is still coated with silty clay from the clams draining as they were piled inside. Given their heavy use, functional baskets like this have rarely been preserved, especially in such good condition -- in contrast to the more commonly collected, coiled and decorated cedar-root basketry of the same period. It is also one of few examples of this type complete with tumpline in Canadian museums.

Cultural origin is uncertain. Construction techniques are similar to Makah or Nuu-chah-nulth baskets, whereas the tumpline-used on the wearerÔÇÖs forehead or across the shoulders to carry the load, is similar to Fraser Valley Coast Salish tumplines. Diane Anderson bought it at the Chippewa Trading Post in Ontario, in 1989. It was tagged as a "19th C Salish burden basket".

Cherry bark used as a structural element to twine the cedar root and wrap the rim. Other materials are cedar withe. The tumpline is made of hemp and wool, with cotton inside. The basketÔÇÖs base is created using a two-over, two-under twill, while the sides are wrapped-twined, using cherry bark strips in such a way that they form a herringbone design.

Large burden basket with strap. Basket is constructed in a sturdy, open weave, wide at the mouth, narrowing sharply to a small rectangular base. Base is woven in a herringbone pattern. The lip is wrapped with cherry bark, which is also used as a decorative element in the body of the basket as strands of the warp. A rope of coarse plant fibre is attached around the lip by twists of cedar root, with a carrying strap of woven wool in dark brown and blue attached on one side.