Ohlone Basket Weaving

                                                                                                      

K-5 artists are studying Ohlone basket weaving. The Ohlones are master basket weavers and Encinal students are learning more about the People, plant biology & native plants, and basket weaving using natural (willow shoots, sedge & bracken fern roots) and synthetic materials. Ask your student what a spoke is, how the Ohlone cooked in wooden baskets and if their baskets really could hold water. Mrs. Noon hopes to pass on the Ohlone’s respect for nature and native plants, beauty in form and function, attention to detail and resourcefulness through this unit. Find out more about California basket making here: California Parks- information on Indian Basketry. Did you know a traditional Ohlone basket takes almost 3,000 hours to weave and could use 20,000 stitches? Our baskets are taking 2-4 art classes. We couldn’t think of a better activity to do while we wait for the willow to grow! Students have really enjoyed learning about this art form, reading selections from The Ohlone Way by Malcom Margolin (young adult/high school age appropriate book in it's entirety) and learning about local artist...

...Linda Yamane, Ohlone basket weaver.
Ms. Yamane, a Rumsien Ohlone from the Monterey Bay area, is almost single-handedly preserving traditional Ohlone basket making. She also is working hard to preserve the language of her people. To learn more about Ms. Yamane and California basket weaving, click on the links below.  

Basketmaking links:

Students- visit the Oakland Museum to see Linda Yamane's traditionally woven basket!  

Fascinating article on how Linda Yamane is keeping Ohlone basketmaking alive 

***Spark! video on Julia Parker's basket weaving & Pomo legacy*** (a great video) 

California Indian Baskets - State Park website  

Video - Life in the Arts, Linda Yamane  

First few chapters of Margolin's 'The Ohlone Way' 

Andrew's basket, 4th grade                                                                                                                  Helena's basket, 3rd