Louisiana Coushatta Basket Makers: Traditional Knowledge, Resourcefulness, and Artistry as a Means of Survival

In the 1880s the Coushatta tribe settled on Bayou Blue in southwestern Louisiana, where they rediscovered a basket making tradition that went back centuries. But this time basket making became an important part of the local economy, generating tourism and political mobilizations. The distinctive baskets were also used to establish the tribes identity and in diplomatic exchanges. The baskets were originally made for food storage and processing, but by 1900 they had become an important item for sale. Coushatta baskets were originally woven from river cane. Long leaf pine needles were added later, and the designs grew more complex and distinctive.
This story of the Coushatta basket makers is told by tribal historic preservation officer Linda Langley and Denise Bates, a historian at Arizona State University. It is a story of perseverance against long odds by a resourceful people facing many hardships. The success of the Coushatta basket industry is a tale of traditional knowledge of a superbly crafted fine art that grows in importance with every generation.