Discover the Flyway from Home – Resources for Teachers, Parents & Students

Patwin Ways of Life

Patwin are the native people who lived along the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area before settlers moved here during the Gold Rush. Patwin lived off of the wetland’s resources. This is a basket made from a wetland reed. In the dry seasons, the plant was gathered and then soaked in water before becoming more bendable to weave and make rope or cordage.

1. Do you know what wetland plant this basket is made from?
2. What is the shape of the basket’s opening?
3. Look at the shape and length of the entire basket. Can you make an educated guess as to what was collected in this type of basket?

Hint: What in nature has the shape of the opening of the basket and can be eaten?

Answers:

1. This basket is made from tule.
2. The basket’s opening has an oval shape.
3. Bird eggs were collected in this type of basket.

This basket could hold eggs easily with the tight oval shape, gently stacking only a few so as to not crush any. Collecting only a few eggs and from different nests ensured that the bird nests would still have some eggs left behind to hatch for future generations to live.