The Northwest Coast is a region in which an entrenched and highly valued artistic tradition flourished and continues to flourish. The Suquamish are the people of the clear salt water. For more than 10,000 years they have occupied that area known today as the Kitsap Peninsula, Bainbridge Island, Blake Island, and parts of Whidbey Island in what is now the state of Washington.
![8609 photo DSCN8609_zpsfe0f7d62.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8609_zpsfe0f7d62.jpg)
Traditionally, the Suqamish made several different kinds of baskets, each with a special use. Writing in 1895, anthropologist Franz Boas reported:
“A great variety of baskets are used—large wicker baskets for carrying fish and clams, cedar bark baskets for purposes of storage.”
Coiled baskets were used for collecting berries, carrying water (yes, they were woven tight enough to be waterproof), cooking (hot stones were dropped in the water filled baskets to cook the food), and for storing dried foods. Open weave baskets were used for gathering clams, small fish, and seaweed.
After the European invasion began, the Suquamish basketmakers began making special baskets for sale as collectables. They also wove other small items for sale including dolls and toys.
Shown below are some of the baskets which are on display in the Suquamish Museum.
![8561 photo DSCN8561_zpsd09d5672.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8561_zpsd09d5672.jpg)
![8603 photo DSCN8603_zpsf9fa426c.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8603_zpsf9fa426c.jpg)
![8608 photo DSCN8608_zpsa7f4fa1a.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8608_zpsa7f4fa1a.jpg)
![8607 photo DSCN8607_zpseb47069b.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8607_zpseb47069b.jpg)
![8606 photo DSCN8606_zpsd98269dc.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8606_zpsd98269dc.jpg)
![8605 photo DSCN8605_zpsde91aba0.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8605_zpsde91aba0.jpg)
![8604 photo DSCN8604_zps85b87f03.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8604_zps85b87f03.jpg)
![8602 photo DSCN8602_zps9aa545e4.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8602_zps9aa545e4.jpg)
![8601 photo DSCN8601_zps6452248d.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8601_zps6452248d.jpg)
![8600 photo DSCN8600_zpse04b07f4.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8600_zpse04b07f4.jpg)
![8599 photo DSCN8599_zps3819dad6.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8599_zps3819dad6.jpg)
![8598 photo DSCN8598_zps026f3563.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8598_zps026f3563.jpg)
![8597 photo DSCN8597_zps18cede66.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8597_zps18cede66.jpg)
![8596 photo DSCN8596_zps643b4e71.jpg](http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/Ojibwa/Suquamish/Baskets/DSCN8596_zps643b4e71.jpg)
Cross Posted at Native American Netroots
An ongoing series sponsored by the Native American Netroots team focusing on the current issues faced by American Indian Tribes and current solutions to those issues.