Apache Burden Basket The Apache have a long history of basket-making, and it is one of the most celebrated art forms in their culture. In the past they created many types of baskets, including trays, ollas, bowls and burden baskets, and used these in all aspects of daily life. The most common style of Apache basket today is the burden basket, a cone-shaped basket with a flat or round bottom. Usually, the rim of the basket is wrapped in buckskin and strips of buckskin with tin tips hang from the basket’s body. Most also come with a carry strap.
Historically, the Apache were nomadic hunters and gatherers, the women wove these baskets to carry firewood, roots and berries, and burden baskets were an efficient tool for collecting and carrying food. The tin cones at the end were for scaring off snakes in the field. Today the smaller burden baskets are used in young girl’s puberty ceremony (known as the Sunrise Ceremony.)
