Lenora. Faces of the Festival 2018. Photo by Steven MecklerI’m a weaver. I weave yucca baskets. The materials that I use are yucca, white from the inner reeds, green from the outer reeds. Bear grass is the coil, devil’s claw, and the red is the root of the wild banana plant. I started when I was four. There’s then of us in our family, one boy and us. We’re all weavers. My brother’s a hunter. I’m the youngest. Everybody went to school and I was there with my mom, and she didn’t want to waste her materials. So I used her scraps to show her that I could do it. She allowed me to learn and she taught me. She’s 93 right now, she’s still alive. Matilda Saraficio is her name. We’ve been doing demonstrations since I was as far back as I can remember. I also do presentations now and I like to take my mother along, I’ve pulled her into it to have her share also. I like to share because it’s our culture and language. Also dancing. I love to dance! To chicken scratch!
-Lenora
I have been trying to find a basket weaving class for the past few years with no luck or I don’t know how to look for that information.
Do you hold classes on basket weaving? I love coil weaving & have done some of that with comfort just not using the traditional material.
Please email me with an answer
Thank you
Lin Wright
Hi Lin,
This course was offered this fall and sold out quickly. You could follow UA SBS in case it’s offered again. https://communityclassroom.arizona.edu/class/huata-macig-basket-weaving-knowledge-sold-out
Are tours offered to visit the basket/plaque weavers in their homes?