Basketweavers Organization (TOBO)

     The Tohono O'odham Basketweavers Organization (TOBO) is dedicated to keeping basketry traditions a vital and living tradition. TOBO works with more than 250 weavers to offer classes to pass weaving traditions and techniques on to a new generation of Tohono O'odham weavers, establish a cooperative which guarantees weavers access to markets and fair compensation for their artistry and hard work. Additionally, preserve access to traditional gathering sites and organize trips to gather weaving materials.

     TOBO sponsors the annual Celebration of basketweaving: Native American Basketweavers Gathering and Market which brings hundreds of weavers from across North America together to explore their rich heritage and exciting future and lastly, conducts traditional ceremonies to bless young weavers.

"More about baskets"

"A Rich Heritage"

     In the Tohono O'odham language, there is no word for "art." Instead, the Tohono O'odham have always created artful ways of living, seeking ways to blend beauty and usefulness. Weavers try to live in ways that bring together the material, spiritual and aesthetic worlds. In basketry, beauty and utility are joined together. Some call it art… most basketweavers simply call it life.

     For countless generations, the woven basket has been an important tool for the Tohono O'odham. At home, baskets have been used to carry water and firewood, prepare food, and store household items.… The traditional ceremonies, dances and stories that reflect the sacredness of the world around us always utilize special baskets.… And for hundreds of years, Tohono O'odham weavers have traded their baskets with other Native and non-Native peoples.

     The history of Tohono O'odham basketry combines utility, ceremony, trade and artistry.

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"Basketry Styles"

  The O'odham Himdag - Desert People's Way - is tangible in every closed-stitch basket. These coiled baskets have been made for many centuries. The sturdy inner coil is completely covered by hundreds - sometimes thousands - of tight stitches which are woven directly next to one another. The weaver incorporates different desert plant fibers in order to create the bold designs and patterns common in closed-stitch baskets.

     The split-stitch basket's inner coil is exposed by spacing stitches further apart. Alternating stitches and "blank space" weavers create mesmerizing designs. Subtle geometric patterns - particularly stars and sun rays - dominate open-stitch basketry. The effect can be almost hypnotic. White yucca stitches stand out against the green beargrass of the inner coil to create the basket's design.


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     The arrival of the horse helped define the American West. In the mid-20th century, it also helped define Tohono O'odham basketry when weavers began to weave very fine miniature baskets from the hair of horses' tails. Horsehair baskets are created using essentially the same techniques as those used in other coiled baskets. The skill and time that go into these unique creations are comparable to their larger relatives.

    Native peoples continue to trade and share traditions with each other, combining designs, materials and techniques of different tribes. Other contemporary weavers combine basketry with pottery, gourds, beadwork and other materials to create "art baskets" which focus on beauty more than utility. With a contemporary feel, these examples of modern fiber arts may be a glimpse into the future of Indian basketry.

"Basket Materials"

     Tohono O'odham baskets are handmade using the native plants of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona. No dyes are used on Tohono O'odham baskets; weavers rely solely on the natural colors of desert plants. Collecting,

growing and preparing these natural fibers require respect for and knowledge about the natural world. Before a weaver places the first stitch, she has to spend countless hours harvesting and preparing her materials.

     The coil - or warp - of the basket is made of beargrass, a long, narrow green grass with razor sharp edges and a flowing stalk. White and green Yucca, black Devil's Claw and red Banana Yucca are used to create the stitches - or weft - of each basket.

     A few of the most traditional baskets still use desert willow and cattail. Miniature baskets are often made out of horsehair.

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"Buying from TOBO"

     For decades, Tohono O'odham weavers have been dependent upon the traders who visit their villages, people who often take advantage of the weavers' isolation and economic hardship. The weaver often receives just 5% to 25% of a basket's retail value from the trader.

     TOBO offers weavers a positive alternative. By working together, weavers are able to reach new markets. As a non-profit organization, TOBO is able to ensure that 75% or more of the retail price goes to the artists. The remaining 25% supports TOBO's educational efforts and activities that benefit weavers.

     Your purchase of baskets from TOBO preserves Tohono O'odham basketry traditions and supports culturally appropriate economic development on the Tohono O'odham Nation.

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"TOCA's Office and Basket Shop"

     TOCA is located in Sells, Arizona - 60 miles southwest of Tucson on State Route 86. Our shop and office is open Monday-Friday from 10:00am until 5:00pm or by appointment.

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