By Richard Montague
Basket weaving across central Arizona’s high deserts and valleys remains a foundational art form and living cultural archive. Among the Yavapai, baskets have long served as essential vessels for daily use and profound markers of meaning. Each intricately coiled piece—crafted from willow, devil’s claw, cottonwood, sumac, or cattail—tells a story of place, ancestry, and communal ingenuity. Within the Arizona Highlands, especially Prescott and the Verde Valley, the Yavape' (Northwestern Yavapai) established an outstanding tradition, providing the primary source of historic baskets in regional collections and at the Sharlot Hall Museum.
More than a utilitarian skill, basketmaking is a living expression of worldview, spirituality, and family heritage. Patterns such as the celebrated six-pointed star and dynamic figurative motifs are not mere decoration, but symbolic links to cosmology and memory. Baskets have functioned as tools for gathering, gifts for ceremony, and valued trade items exchanged within and beyond tribal boundaries. Historic images and museum holdings—including the “Baskets Keep Talking” exhibit at Sharlot Hall—offer lasting proof of the artistry and complexity that define these woven forms.
The Yavapai tradition, particularly that of the Yavape', has been especially influential. Motifs, plant materials, and weaving expertise have been adopted and adapted by neighboring tribes for over a century. Notably, exchanges between the Yavapai and other Yuman-speaking neighbors, especially the Quechan and Tolkepaya (Western Yavapai), have fostered adaptability and mutual respect. Distinct stylistic features remain, yet the widespread use of devil’s claw for detail and pictorial figures reflects shared values that evolved through generations of contact.
Yuman basketry—both ancient and modern—is noted for technical mastery and cultural depth. Quechan basketry is stylistically and technically similar to Yavapai work, utilizing both two-rod and three-rod coiling and richly decorated with animal, human, and geometric designs. These shared practices embody a sustained connection between communities, old and new.
In the twentieth century, the late Viola Jimulla, a revered Yavapai chieftess, led a renaissance of basket making in Prescott Valley. As a master weaver and knowledge bearer, Jimulla taught and inspired countless Yavapai to achieve exceptionality in symmetry and storytelling. Her influence ensured basketry’s survival and prominence. The late Donna Nightpipe built upon this legacy as a celebrated culture bearer, teacher, and demonstrator, whose dedicated instruction helped revitalize weaving skills and pride among a new generation.
Harvesting and cultivating these basket plants today requires unusual commitment. Modern development, habitat loss, and climate change have made gathering key species ever harder. Many weavers must adapt—travel farther, grow plants at home, or use alternative fibers. Both traditional and contemporary baskets are now made side by side: classic forms share space with innovative designs and new stories. The art evolves while honoring its roots.
The cultural place of baskets in Native life distinguishes them from many objects in mainstream American culture. While sometimes seen as merely decorative by outsiders, for Indigenous people, baskets are vital links to ancestors and land—living extensions of language, ritual, and community. Recognizing basketry as a living tradition, not just an artifact, allows us to appreciate its layered significance and persistent creativity.
This respect comes alive at the annual Prescott Indian Art Market (PIAM). PIAM features Yavapai masterworks, especially those rooted in Yavape' heritage, with baskets from Hopi, Tohono O’odham, Apache, Pueblo, and other creators. Each tradition—technique, motif, plant material—is honored. Yuman baskets are justly regarded as masterworks and a living library for all to learn from.
Richard Montague, PhD(c) (Quechan, Maricopa), studies the history and basketry of Yuman-speaking peoples in Arizona and California. He is the founder of the Yuman Basket Weavers Association.
This year’s Prescott Indian Art Market takes place September 21–22 at Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley Street, Prescott. Visit sharlothallmuseum.org for details.