N'de Olla Basket

Ollas were used to store corn, seeds, and other foods used by the N'de [Apache] people. These baskets were woven with Yucca and often had stories woven into them.

These baskets are sacred because they were used to keep safe that which nourishes the body. Cultivation and sustainable agriculture practices are integral in Native communities. Seeing the soil, the seeds, and the crops as members of the community that sustained wellness allowed for Apache (and other tribes of the Southwest) to thrive in harsh desert climates.