Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona

Now that we've looked at different climates zones in Arizona, let's look at the plants that grow in these regions which basketmakers use in their weaving. Click on the black circle to answer the discussion questions.  

Map 3: Plants of Arizona

How do you experience the environment where you live?
Below are activities and reflection questions to help you consider your relationship with nature and the affects of climate change. Attached are extension activities.

Reflection Activity

Photo: Tucson, Arizona during monsoon season, August 2022. Photo by Lisa Falk

Story: Wind and Rain

Arizona is home to many different environments, from desert to mountains, each with its own climate. But what is a climate? A climate is a weather pattern within an area. This includes the temperature and precipitation, and influences what plants grow where. The elevation, or height above the sea level, plays a role, too. Usually, the higher the elevation, the colder the temperature and the more precipitation. Climate zones impact how people use and live on the land. Check out the hotspots on the map to investigate different climate zones in Arizona. Click on the black circle to access the discussion questions.

Map 2: Climates of Arizona

Currently, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized Native Nations with ancestral and reservation lands in the state of Arizona. In this kit, we look at how changes in the environment have impacted basketmaking practices for Hopi, Western Apache, Akimel O’odham, and Tohono O’odham weavers. Look at the map closely and click on the stars to learn more about these Native Nations and their basketmaking traditions. Click on the black circle to answer the discussion questions. Download the Native Nations activity below to test your knowledge of where the Native Nations communities are located in Arizona today.  

Map 1: Native Nations of the Southwest

Click on the stars to learn more about the highlighted baskets in this Wall of Baskets. Don't miss the 3D model of a special Tohono O'odham basket. Click the black circle for discussion questions.

Interactive Basket Display

Tohono O'odham baskets with traditional and modern designs. Some of the designs are man in the maze, squash blossom, star and wheat. Credit: Arizona Sate Museum, 1972, Tohono O'odham Collection 1970-1980, Helga Teiwes Photographer, https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/94182. 

Interview with Tohono O'odham Basketweaver Terrol Dew Johnson 

* What plants would you want to use to weave a basket?   
* Why would you choose those?     Refer back to the Plants of Arizona activity to figure out where you might find those plants.

Plants and Tools Used in Making Tohono O'odham Baskets

Draw and color on this basket template to create your own basket design. List the basket weaving materials you would use. Refer back to the previous activity to see examples of how the materials are used for ideas.

Design Your Own Basket

Circle Loom Weaving Activity

Can you recall? Draw and write/type on this map to show where reservations of the Arizona tribes are located. Refer back to the previous activity if you need to.

Mapping Activity

This resource kit explores how climate change impacts Native American basketmakers and their communities, and will help students reflect on the impacts of climate change in their own lives. Baskets are an important part of many Native American cultures, but climate change is impacting the resources used to make baskets. Basketmaking practices from Hopi, Western Apache, Akimel O’odham and Tohono O’odham communities are highlighted in this kit.  (All discussion questions for this kit can be found in the Educator Materials).

Kit developed by Arizona State Museum student interns Kat Moore, Will Martin, Kayleigh Heffelmire under the guidance of Dr. Ruth Jolie, and with the support and editing of Lisa Falk and Sarah Willwater.


Educator Overview for Climate Change through Basktry -revised.docx.pdf

Understanding Climate Change Discussion Questions-1.pdf

Understanding Climate Change through Indigenous Basketry

Civics and Government

Social Studies

Economics

Geography

Visual Arts

The Arts

The sharp-tipped leaves are split and used in coiled and plaited baskets. Harvested in the winter, the leaves are green. When collected after the summer rains, the new-growth leaves are lighter and will become whiter when left in the sun to bleach. Tohono O’odham coiled baskets are stitched with this yucca. Hopi basketmakers use a similar but botanically separate yucca species (yucca angustissma).

The red roots are used for design highlights in O'odham, Apache, Havasupai and Yavapai coiled baskets. The fibrous, spiny leaves can be used to make cordage as well as coiled and plaited baskets. 

Also called martynia, many Southwest, California and Great Basin weavers split the dried claw-like seed pods of this annual to make the black designs in coiled and twined baskets. Devil’s Claw is both wild and domesticated. 

A clumping, perennial, grass-­like plant. Green leaves are cut with a knife. Trimmed leaves are split and used in coiled foundations by Tohono O'odham basketmakers, and for plaiting by Tarahumara basketmakers.

 Lupe Lopez, Tohono O’odham, weaving a basket with yucca, devil’s claw, and bear grass. Tohono O’odham Nation, Sells, AZ. 

Photo by Jannelle Weakly, courtesy ASM, 2016

 Juanita Ahill, Tohono O’odham, splits ‘ihug, devil’s claw with her teeth. Tohono O’odham Nation, AZ. 

Photo by Helga Teiwes, courtesy ASM, 1975

Eloisa Velasco, Tohono O’odham, weaves a coiled basket. Big Fields, Tohono O’odham Nation, AZ. 

Photo by Helga Teiwes, courtesy ASM, 1979

 Pauline Antone, Tohono O’odham, weaving a basket with yucca, devil’s claw, and bear grass. Tohono O’odham Nation, Sells, AZ. 

Tohono O’odham baskets for sale at the Tohono O’odham Community Action (TOCA) booth, Southwest Indian Art Fair, Arizona State Museum, Tucson, AZ. 

Photo by Marnie Sharp, courtesy ASM, 2009.

Miniature baskets by Harrison Preston. Two have been made into necklaces with shell beads.

Baskets featuring the wheat stitch design by Harrison Preston

No:ligk Traditional Singers and Dancers, Tohono O'odham, performing at Arizona State Museum’s Woven Through Time exhibit opening.

Photo by Jannelle Weakly, courtesy ASM, 2017

Tohono O’odham No:ligk Traditional Singers and Dancers perform the basket dance at the Southwest Indian Art Show, Arizona State Museum, Tucson, AZ. Julie Luchetta, photographer, 2005.

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Understanding Climate Change through Indigenous Basketry

Plants and Tools Used in Making Tohono O'odham Baskets

Guiding Question

Soaptree Yucca (Yucca elata)