Course Description
The original inhabitants of the village of Schuk-Shon the Desert people, or Tohono O’odham) have women baskets for thousands of years, most commonly not making distinctions between a basket’s utilitarian purpose and its aesthetic qualities. The result of this deep ancestral knowledge are extraordinary, deceptively simple and at the same time complex, cultural products that carry more than wood, water, or food. In this three-part workshop, a mother and daughter duo of Tohono O’odham basket master weavers will demonstrate and teach how handmade baskets using Native plants such as Yucca, Beargrass, and Devils Claw form part of the Tohono O’odham constellation of regional cultural treasures. In addition to sharing historical information about basketry, the workshop will teach hands-on preparation of basket materials, including the careful regulations and stewardship of Desert resources, and will give participants the opportunity to try their hand at basic basket weaving techniques taught under the tutelage of a respected tradition bearer.
This course is limited to 20 participants.
This workshop is offered in partnership with Southwest Folklife Alliance.
Course Format
Registered community members will meet with Regina and Megan Siquieros in three in-person sessions on the following Saturdays from 10 AM to Noon: September 18, 25 and October 2.
Registration
Online registration for this course opens on Monday, August 16, 2021, at 10 a.m.
Refunds
Refunds are available and need to be requested before the second class meeting (September 25). To drop a class, please contact us at 520-626-6694 or sbs-communitymatters@email.arizona.edu. A $25 administrative fee for each cancellation will apply.
Location & Parking
Class meets at Mission Gardens at 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ 85745
Street parking is available.