Western Apache Burden Basket

Burden Basket, late 19th - early 20th century
Western Apache people; Arizona
Willow, devil's claw, buckskin fringe and cloth; 12 x 16 1/4 x 18 3/4 in.
33133
Gift of Mr. Lawrence Gale

The conical burden basket of the Western Apache seen at the Bowers Museum is uniquely a woman’s accessory. The basket woven from willow branches and adorned with devil’s claw decoration was ideally constructed for the nomadic life of the Apache people. The baskets were made to be sturdy and strong for the transportation and storage of such things as food, wood and even babies. The basket can be made into varying sizes. The Bowers’ example is 12x16 ¼ x18 inches. The baskets are also typically woven with geometric designs with thin leather straps cascading from the sides and the bottom of the basket. Most of the leather straps are decorative in nature, but a few are used to tie the basket to the backs of the wearer.

The burden basket also holds a special place in the elaborate Apache Sunrise Ceremony, Na’ii’ees. The Sunrise Ceremony is held during a pivotal stage in a young Apache girl’s life when she undergoes the transformation from a child to a woman. In this ceremony, which usually takes place in the spring and summer months, the girl being initiated is temporarily transformed into the goddess Isdząnadl’esh, who is also known as the white painted woman and Changing Woman. The girl, by the end of the four-day ceremony becomes a woman. The ceremony, which continues to present day, is believed to regenerate and give strength to the goddess as well as to bring blessings to the tribe. During the ceremony the girl will wear the burden basket loaded with fruit and while performing a traditional dance present them to her godmother who functions as her sponsor. This beautiful ceremony serves multiple purposes: it is a coming of age ritual for the initiated girl and it blesses and unites her tribe. The burden basket is a wonderful symbolic and physical reminder of the Apache people and their way of life.

All text and images under copyright. Please contact Collection Department for permission to use. Information subject to change upon further research.