Description

Yavapai basket weaver, Minnie Stacey, photographed in 1982 in an unknown location.  Minnie was born in Paloma, Arizona and passed away in 1984.

One of Minnie's baskets is currently in the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History located in Santa Barbara, California.  The American Indian Basketry Collection, which houses more than 1,000 baskets made by Native North American peoples has an on-line catalog. The featured basket by Minnie is a large jar, coiled, 3-rod willow foundation sewn with willow and devil’s claw c.1935.

The history of the Yavapai Tribe has its origins in the prehistory of the southwestern portion of North America.  From prehistoric times to the early 1860s, the Yavapai lived within an area covering more than 9 million acres, known today as central and western Arizona.  Although there were four divisions of Yavapai, they considered themselves to be one people who spoke the same Yavapai language and shared the same beliefs and customs.  They often traveled in groups made up of extended families.  The men hunted with bows and arrows for deer, mountain sheep, and other game; the women and children gathered seasonal berries, seeds and fruit.  The Yavapai women wove magnificent baskets, which were used for the storage of food and other items.

Sources: 

Website - https://www.sbnature.org

Handout - Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe Culture Resource Department