Museum hosts Washoe basket weaving

The Nevada State Museum presents an afternoon of cultural enrichment as master basket weaver Sue Coleman demonstrates her art from 1 to 4 p.m. June 30.

Coleman is a member of the Washoe nation, part of the Dresslerville reservation. She will demonstrate the art of twining in willow, a method of basket weaving popular in the Great Basin since prehistoric times.

"Sue's presentations are always very special," said Curator of Education Deborah Stevenson, "because she shares so generously from the heart of the Washoe teachings and childhood memories."

Coleman learned basket weaving from her mother, Theresa Smokey Jackson, in the late 1980s. Together they gathered willow, which they stripped, cleaned and made into thread.

Her first basket was the bicoos, Washoe for cradleboard. Over the years, she has challenged herself with round baskets, burden baskets, seed beaters and winnowing trays, in addition to cradleboards, in a variety of styles.

Coleman is inspired by her ancestors, such as her great-great-grandmother Sara Mayo, known for her famous "territorial" basket.

"Baskets are important to the native people," Coleman said. "Traditionally, baskets were used to gather, prepare, cook and store native foods, for rearing children, for gift giving and ceremonies. Weaving almost died in our tribe and even now, there are only a handful of weavers left. I am continuing my mother's dream and now mine, to keep the baskets alive."

Coleman has earned a total of 44 blue ribbons in prestigious shows.

The Smithsonian purchased one of her baskets for their traveling exhibit program, which will visit museums throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Coleman is on the board of the National Basketweavers Association and is a member of the California Indian Basketweavers Association, Northwest Native American Basketweavers, Hawaiian Basketweavers and Great Basin Basketmakers, to name a few.

For more information about this program, contact Deborah Stevenson at 687-4810, ext. 237.