Tohono O'Odham Baskets

If your looking for a true souvenir of Tucson and the surrounding area, baskets made by our local people the Tohono O'Odham (people of the desert), is just the thing!  These are easy to transport and decorate with. 

The Tohono O'Odham have been in the Sonoran Desert for hundreds of years.  They are most known for their baskets.  Baskets have been used for transporting and storing just about everything, food, grain, belongings, and  used for cooking in.  They even wove their sleeping mats, and  their sandals.  Old baskets were made of willow and devils claw.  The baskets today are made of white yucca, devils claw (black), banana yucca root (red) and bear grass (filler).  There are coiled and open weave baskets.  Designs of animals, dust devils, spirals, frets, stars, insects, pinwheels and many other things.  The most popular basket is the Man in the Maze.  The more design in the basket the more expensive it will be.   Help keep a native tradition alive, buy a basket and support our local people. Cost: $450.00.