Interview with Elaine Emerson (Colville), Basketweaver Interviewed by Ann McCormack (Nez Perce)

Abstract

E: To get my cedar roots now we go out to Idaho. We used to get 'em in the Methow Valley, but that's all private property now. There's a couple groves in there. The cedars are so hard to dig, but it's beautiful white cedar. You just couldn't believe how pretty the baskets were. [Shows basket to Ann.] This design here means mountains. It usually can be in any color, but, see, it comes up in that zigzag? Now, with our tribe we call it mountains, and the Wenatchi band, which is about what? Ninety miles south of here? They have the same zigzag pattern, but they call it bent knee. But their design means mountains pattern. And then we have designs that come from elements of the weather, mostly nature, and we have a design that they call clouds. That's an