Bonnie Bitsinnie

Bonnie Burbank Bitsinnie grew up near Las Vegas, Nevada, and learned to weave baskets after marrying into the Bitsinnie family of Douglas Mesa, Utah. Having grown up away from many Diné (Navajo) traditions, she now works to sustain them. She involves her whole family in the preparations for making baskets and teaches her skills to her children. She has also taught weaving classes for college and high school students. Bonnie weaves bold geometric patterns as well as pictorial designs of gah (rabbits) and k’aalógii (butterflies). Her work has won many awards, including a first prize at the Gallup Ceremonials. “My baskets are alive.  They need to be alive, not just a design,” Bonnie explains. “Each basket represents something. If it is fire then we use fire color. If it is water, or rainbow, we use those colors. We don’t want a dead basket!”