Nevada's history is peppered with the influence of Native Americans, and this influence is highly apparent in craftwork from the state. Most Nevada crafts were originally created out of necessity or for cultural purposes, but they now also serve as novel and decorative items. One of the best ways to experience these Native American crafts is to attend one of the many pow-wows in Nevada, where craftwork is displayed by the dancers and vendors that attend.
There are many festivals that include the different types of crafts made by Native Americans in Nevada. One of the largest is the annual Nevada Indian Days. In 2007, it was held in July in Fallon. This festival includes vendors presenting many different crafts, as well as a traditional basket weaving competition, teen girls' fancy shawl special, and a hand drum contest.
Clothing
Native Americans had to make their own clothing, not just for ceremonies, but also for every day life. Today, traditional garments are a popular Nevada craft. One of the most common articles of clothing made by Native Americans is the moccasin. These are usually crafted from animal skin. Moccasins made for ceremonies can also be more like boots and are usually decorated with beaded designs. Another clothing craft favorite is the buckskin dress. The majority of these dresses fit like shawls and are also decorated with beads for dances. Accessories are common clothing craft items,too, and they can include tobacco pouches, belts, scarves, chokers, fans, and purses.
Drums
Drums are a vital part of Native American ceremonies and can be found at almost every craft fair. Drums are believed to be the heartbeat of Mother Earth and are believed to connect people with spirits. They are also believed to bring people back into balance. Every pow-wow event centers around the drums, since pow-wows feature dance presentations.
Basket Weaving
Basket weaving was also an important part of Native American living. For the Native Americans, baskets were necessary for cooking, storing food, and carrying babies. To the non-Native Americans in the Old West, baskets were originally regarded as souvenirs. However, over time, people began regarding them as true works of art.
The most famous basket weaver was Louisa Keyser, or Dat-So-La-Lee. She took her baskets to Carson City in 1895 to sell at an emporium. The owner and his wife supported her until her death so that they could sell her baskets to collectors and tourists. Keyser's work made her internationally famous. Her baskets are now collectors' items worth approximately $300,000 each. The baskets can be seen at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City and the Nevada Historical Society in Reno. Although her home is still in existence in Carson City, it is not open to public and remains a private residence.
For those that would like to learn the basket weaving techniques, there are several craft fairs around the state that give lessons and have contests, as well as summer programs that teach basket weaving.
Turquoise Jewelry
Another significant fine craft in Nevada is turquoise jewelry. For those who love turquoise jewelry or just the loose gems, Nevada is an excellent place to find quality turquoise. It has been mined for many years all around Nevada. The most prominent city for turquoise is Austin, which is the unofficial capital of turquoise in the state. Austin is central to many of the mining towns that still produce the material. These mines include Carico Lake, the Blue Diamond/Papoose areas, McGuinness, and Damale.
Turquoise was originally mined in Nevada as early as the 1800s when it was first discovered in Nevada. Many of the Native Americans crafted this into beautiful silver jewelry, sacred objects, and decorative items. The Paiute and Shoshone tribes of Nevada used the gem in their crafts but never developed an established style like that of tribes in other nearby states.
Nevada has an estimated 100-plus mines in its territory, and the number of gem deposits in this state exceed all the turquoise deposits in the rest of the United States combined. Turquoise mined in Nevada has been determined to be good to excellent quality.
Numerous areas where turquoise is found were originally worked by the Native Americans. The Native Americans showed the gems to settlers, and these settlers then established area mines. While many of these mines are no longer in use, there are several that still produce large quantities of turquoise. One of the mines still functioning is the Dry Creek Mine. The mine owners actually sell finished jewelry from the mine.
From pow-wows to turquoise jewelry, from baskets to Native American dress, Nevada crafts are a traditional delight. A visit to this state wouldn't be complete without experiencing the handiwork produced in Nevada.
