There were several tribes in the Columbia River Plateau region who wove cornhusk bags, including the Nez Perces, the Yakima, Umatilla and others. They are generically referred to as “Nez Perces” bags in the marketplace. These people were migratory as they traded horses to other tribes and they needed containers to carry food and other necessary items. They twined cornhusk bags in all sizes to provide for this need.

These baskets are false-embroidered, meaning that extra strands are used while weaving to provide for the design on the outside but not on the inside of the bag. There are no seams. The bags are woven as one piece. Twining cannot be rewoven.

The designs on each side do not necessarily coordinate in color. In this case, however, the designs are woven out of the same materials and both sides are very appealing visually.