GENEVA RAMON
Tohono O'odham
   Geneva makes coiled yucca baskets and also makes beautiful miniature horsehair baskets. Her horsehair baskets have won awards for her at the Southwest Indian Art Fair, at the Celebration of Basketweaving and at O'odham Tash. She has also appeared in the pages of Arizona Highways magazine and various books. She is an active volunteer and leaders with the Tohono O'odham Basketweavers Organization, and has taught basketry traditions to more than 100 students at the Ha:sañ Preparatory and Leadership School.

     Geneva's aunt and cousin taught her to weave yucca baskets. She learned to weave horsehair baskets from her grandmother. Her baskets always have a flower or star design at the beginning or end of the basket. Many of the designs Geneva uses are traditional Tohono O'odham designs -- the Man in the Maze, Friendship and Dancers. She also uses designs from stories, such as coyote tracks.

 Weaving baskets is Geneva's hobby. She is inspired by her family tradition. She remembers when she was very young and worked with her dad and grandmother. They are not living today; even though they cannot see what she is weaving, their memory inspires her. She is very proud to be a Tohono O'odham weaver.

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