By ERICA SHEN, The Press-Enterprise
February 26, 2008

An exhibition opening Thursday at the Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology tells the personal history of Native American basketry in Southern California.

“Stories of Survival: Walking with Weavers Through Generations of Time,” presented by the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians and the Western Center, features more than 75 baskets dating to the late 1800s from tribal members, private collectors and Southern Californian museums. Joseph Ontiveros, 32, is a Gabrieleno from San Gabriel and an employee of the Soboba Cultural Resource Department. He and Carrie Garcia, 27, a Cahuilla and Luiseno, serve as the Native American consultants for the exhibition.

The two trekked all over Southern California reservations, collecting baskets from tribal families and interviewing them about the history of their baskets.

“We felt that it was time for us to tell the complete story,” Ontiveros said. “We wanted to tell the story from the basket weavers’ perspective.”

The Western Center already houses about 200,000 pieces of Native American artifacts from Diamond Valley region, but it hopes that the basketry exhibition will shed more light on the cultures of Native American tribes in the area.

“We thought it’d be neat to help support a special show on their basketry,” said Richard Giese, executive director of the Western Center. “It’s their Picasso. It’s their Renoir. The baskets are just spectacular.”

The exhibition is divided into five sections, starting with the materials and techniques used in basketry. The exhibition then introduces visitors to the practical uses of basketry in Native American lives. “It’s more than an object,” Carrie Garcia said. “It’s something that represents the way of life.”

The most unique part of the exhibition is the section titled “Stories of Our Grandmothers,” which focuses on the stories behind some of the baskets and their weavers.

“Every basket has a personal story behind it,” Ontiveros said. “We are fortunate enough to be able to uncover some of the stories through extensive interviews and showcase them at the exhibition.”

Visitors will also learn about the near extinction of basketry in history and how it was revived by a few surviving weavers.

The exhibition ends with a display of baskets from modern-day weavers.

Steven Estrada, 23, of Hemet, is one of the weavers whose basket is featured in the exhibition.

He was introduced to basketry by his family when he was 12 and took formal basket weaving courses when he became older. Estrada makes his baskets using his great-great-grandmother’s awl.

“It’s just a beautiful art form and tradition that’s been passed on from our history,” Estrada said. “It also helps me to connect with my great-great-grandmother and my roots.”

Reach Erica Shen at 951-763-3466, or eshen@PE.com
© 2008 Press-Enterprise Company

Posted on February 26th, 2008 by hunwut
Filed under: Culture