Tradition and Innovation: A Basket History of the Indians of the Yosemite-Mono Lake Area [Hardcover]

Craig D. Bates (Author), Martha J. Lee (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 252 pages
• Publisher: Yosemite Association (December 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939666545
• ISBN-13: 978-0939666546
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,172,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Needs more work., October 2, 2005

By 

Hetch Hetchy Indian - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tradition and Innovation: A Basket History of the Indians of the Yosemite-Mono Lake Area (Hardcover)

I agree there are problems with this book, but the section that has the baskets is very beautiful. That part was my favorite. I agree that better research could have been done on the weavers themselves, but the baskets make this book a beautiful addition just on the baskets themselves. I know what the other reviewers are talking about and sometimes it can be frustrating that such things have been done, but the photos of the baskets and basket work is great.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique and valuable resource, July 28, 2005

By 

Willow Polson "writer and whatnot." (Groveland, Calif.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tradition and Innovation: A Basket History of the Indians of the Yosemite-Mono Lake Area (Hardcover)

As a basketmaker taught by Yosemite weaver Julia Parker to follow the traditional ways, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes complete and indepth information on the basketry of the central Sierra Nevada peoples. Complete information (well, as much as a book can have) on the plants used, how the materials are gathered, and how basic weaves are done with good line illustrations. Numerous pictures, both from the archives of the Yosemite museum and from the weavers' families, richly illustrate this large book.

Photo after photo places the baskets in historical context, relates them to the individual weavers, and shows how their construction changed over time, from pre-contact styles to the later baskets produced for tourists and Field Days competitions. Also discussed is the topic of how baskets were used in trade between the other nearby tribes, such as the Mono, Paiute and Yokut. An interesting intermingling of styles is sometimes seen as local Miwok weavers incorporate the forms and designs of these other baskets into their own work.

Additionally, the author Craig Bates has been both married to a Miwok traditional basketmaker and has been curator of the Yosemite museum for many years. His expertise on the subject of Yosemite Indian basketry is unsurpassed. The book is used extensively in the Indian Museum itself and was personally recommended to me by Julia Parker herself, who said "everything you need to know is in that book." That's not quite true as there isn't anything on the various taboos you must observe while weaving, but I'm very glad that I was able to get a copy of this book when it first came out, because now it's difficult to get. A real treasure for anyone wanting extremely detailed information on this topic.

(P.S. -- If you detect sour grapes from previous reviewers, it's political and has to do with what bands are recognized by the state and thus allowed to have lucrative casinos. Sadly, the erasure of California native history continues in the name of greed.)

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Book is biased toward Miwoks., July 31, 2005

By 

Yosemite Sam "The ghost of Tenaya" (Awahnee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tradition and Innovation: A Basket History of the Indians of the Yosemite-Mono Lake Area (Hardcover)

This book is biased towards Miwoks and I don't have a casino. Not one of the most famous basketmakers in Yosemite were Miwok. Bates and Lee write in this book that Young Charlie was a Miwok. That is false. Bates and Lee write that Tom Hutchings was a Miwok. That is false. Bates and Lee write that Capt. Sam and Susie might have been Miwoks. No they weren't. Nellie Washington was not Miwok, but Yokut. Lena Rube-Brown-Wilson was not Miwok, but more likely Washo/Paiute. Susie Lawrence was not Miwok, but Casson Yokut and 1/2 white. Indian Mary (Leonard) was not the daughter of Capt. Paul, but first it was written that she was the daughter of Capt. John the Paiute and then Indian Bob the Yokut. If Maria Lebardo was the grand daughter of Tenaya she would have to be 3/4s Paiute and not full blooded Miwok. Mary Wilson was not full blooded Miwok, but half white and Paiute. Sally Ann Dick was the daughter of Paiute Capt. Dick....etc. If anyone is biased it seems that the authors were. Maybe the marriage to a Miwok clouded the author. What college or University degree did the author Bates have to write enthnology of the Indians of Yosemite? Being married to Miwok does not qualify someone to be an expert on Yosemite Indians.