Artifacts
Baskets
were made from cedar or spruce roots and birch bark. The birch bark baskets
(mimc) were the most common and the most well-known. The birch bark
was cut and peeled from the tree. It was sewn together with spruce roots.
Pitch was used to waterproof the baskets. Some of these baskets were used
to steam roots and as containers for berries. Cedar root baskets were the
most decorative of the baskets. They were also used to boil water and cook
berries. These baskets were tightly woven with cedar roots and willow.
Wild cherry bark was used for the geometric design. Some of these baskets
told a story about the family.
Beads
(tsususu7t) were made from rocks, bones, and antlers. They were
painted or left natural. They were valued for jewelry and clothing decorations.
Talons, feathers, and shells were also used for decorations.
Bowls
and mauls were items used to grind food for cooking or tobacco for smoking.
They were also used for making dyes, paints, and ointment. This rock was
made from lava rock which was also used in sweathouses and pitcooking.