The Tohono O'odham is a tribe of the Sonoran Desert region of present-day southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. Formerly known as the Papago (which was an English mispronunciation of a Spanish mispronunciation of another tribe's name for them) Tohono O'odham is a Uto-Aztecan word meaning 'Desert People' and is their name for themselves. A Tohono O'odham "hoh" or basket is made from a coil of bear grass (Nolina microcarpa, called moho in their language) sewn with bleached white yucca (Yucca elata, tokway). Other materials used include green or yellow-green unbleached yucca, black from the seed pod of the devilsclaw plant (Martynia parviflora, eehuk) and on occasion, red from the root of the Spanish or Shin Dagger (Yucca arizonica, oh'eetock). There are two styles: the split-stitch, which is used for utility or storage baskets; and covered stitch baskets, for those which are subject to more wear, like baskets for parching or winnowing. (C) BAHTI Indian Arts, 1977.

This small basket was made in the 1960's. Measuring 6 inches in diameter, $125

This large basket has a 19.5 inch diameter and won Best In Class at the Intertribal Ceremonial. $600

All three of these critturs are by the husband and wife team of Della and Fred Cruz. the disdainful cat is 7.25 inches high and $110. Both the head and the hat are separate. The pig (first we've had) is 6 by 3.25 inches and $60. And the dog is SOLD

Tohono O'odham anodized wire baskets by Charles Antone (see his earrings in the Earring Gallery) The red one measures 4.75 inches across and about 1 inch deep. the pink one (no: neither your eyes nor your monitor were playing tricks on you) is a shade smaller at 4.25 inches across. $50 each.

A star motif basket, 6 inches across and $65.

Woven by Racheal Pablo, this split stitch basket is 8 inches across and $50

The Tohono O'odham maze pattern, sometimes referred to as the Maze of Life, is a pattern found as a petroglyph in many areas of the Sonoran Desert that is the traditional home of the O'odham and their ancestors, the Hohokam. The design is generally believed to represent the path that I'itoi --Elder Brother-- took to his home near the base of Baboquivari Peak in order to evade anyone who might follow him. Their relatives, the Pima ( Akimel O'odham ), are recorded as having said that it was the floor plan of a home built by Se-eh-ha to confound his enemies. In recent the past century the story has evolved into the maze as a symbolizing the path of life. There is some disagreement as to whether the figure is entering or leaving the maze. The version that has the figure entering goes on to say that the small 'nook' near the center where one sits and reflects upon one's life before completing the journey. Regardless of the version, the design lends itself well to the path-of-life interpretation as while it has no shortcuts, there are no dead-ends either, and the entire path must be followed in order to complete the journey. Copyright 1997-2009 Bahti Indian Arts

A maze basket by Doris Jose, 7.25 by .75 inch. The coils start out at 5 coils per inch, but get wider and stronger towards the rim. $300.

Baling wire baskets have become fairly rare. Even more rare are figurative baling wire pieces like this scorpion that is 9 inches long. $45

This stunning friendship basket measures 16 inches in diameter. $1600

A floating duck basket by Delores Stevens. And yes, migrating ducks can be found on the stock ponds on the Tohono O'odham Reservation. 6.5 by 4.75 by 3 inches high. $145.

This basket was made by C. Pablo and measures 7 inches in diameter. $68

Tohono O'odham basket with horned lizard designs - called Chemamagi in their language. About 40 years old, it measures 10" by 12" $875

This striking and large polychrome basket portrays a saguaro harvest, which normally takes place about July It was made in the 1960s. It measures 15.25"x14.50". $1275

This impressive basket measures 19 inches in diameter and is $300. By Phylis Jones from Fresnal Canyon,