Hupa Jump Dance Basket

Hupa Jump Dance Basket; Unknown weaver. c. 1920-30. 12.5" long x 5" D. Half-twist overlay weave with wood rod foundation. Beargrass and maidenhair fern. Geometric design. Each end is sealed with deerskin and the handle is wrapped in it. Decorated with flicker feathers. Condition; excellent. Purchased in 1999 at the Gallery of the Peoples, Bainbridge Island, WA. The Xay-ch ́idilye (Jump DaNorthern Californiae) is completed every two years by people from the Hoopa Tribe of lifornia. The ceremony is conducted only in the fall and is one part of three ceremonies held in three sections to bring balaNorthern Californiae back into the world. The first ceremony is called the Xonsil-ch ́idilye (White Deerskin DaNorthern Californiae) and lasts for ten days. This daNorthern Californiae is believed to remove evil or bad from the people preparing for the second cere¬mony, the Ta: ́altul (Boat DaNorthern Californiae). The na ́wehch (Jump DaNorthern Californiae basket) serves a vital role in the completion of this ceremony. With each stitch of the basket the weaver breathes life into its creation and makes way for the basket to take its place as a living part of the community. An active participant in the ceremony, the basket is responsible for the important task of removing evil or bad from the world and putting good back into it. The daNorthern Californiaer holds the basket in his right hand. Keeping time with the song and other daNorthern Californiaers, he lifts the basket high in the air and then returns it to his stomach area. With a loud stomp of his foot, the evil or bad is stomped into the ground. The basket is then lifted again high in the air, releasing good back into the world. This action is considered a way of replacing evil or bad in the world with good.