Evelyn Pete

Evelyn Pete

Artist; Occupational; Basket

Profile of artist Evelyn Pete

2000

Basket Weaver

Evelyn Pete, a Northern Paiute, grew up in Duckwater, Nevada where she learned to weave baskets from her mother. Today she lives on the Goshute Reservation where she gathers and prepares willow to make a variety of ancient forms like winnowing trays, gathering baskets, seed beaters and covered bowls. She also specializes in another very old basket form, the willow cradle. Cradleboards have always been used to provide a portable bed for Native American babies. Evelyn weaves willow cradles, specifically for newborns, that are designed to support the blanket-wrapped baby during the first few months of life. When the baby outgrows the cradle, a larger cradleboard with a more intricate willow frame is used. Covered in buckskin or canvas, these larger infant cradles also have sun shades to provide protection.