A Special Basket: Described by Pat Courtney Gold
Human: I made this image small, to denote that all creatures
are equal.
Sturgeon Image: The sturgeon are symbols of strength and longevity.
They can grow more that 10 feet, weight close to 1000 pounds and live approximately
100 years. They are an important Wasco design. I usually include a "Hanford"
sturgeon on my baskets. Hanford is the area where nuclear weapons were made
during WWII, but is now a nuclear dump and hazardous chemical waste-site.
It is close to the Columbia River, and there has to be all kinds of pollution
seeping from Hanford into the Columbia River. No environmental agency really
wants to test the water in that area.
Mountain Goat: These animals were common in the Washington Cascade
Range, and their images can be seen on many old baskets.
