Description (May 3, 2004)
The Language of Native American Baskets - This companion site from the National Museum of the American Indian, Heye Center, NY (through Jan, 2005), features more than 200 baskets from NMAI's collection and presents basketmaking according to the Native cultural viewpoint, focusing on the process of making a basket rather than on the finished basket as an object. Each basket in the collection is defined historically, aesthetically as well as the techniques and tools used in this art.

Classroom Integration

• Have students choose baskets to study and then design their own, explaining their view of the design.
  
  
• Students research the variety of art forms created by Native Americans. Compare the art of various Native American nations in a PowerPoint presentation.