Morro Bay State Parks Museum of Natural History
The Morro Bay Museum of Natural History has a Native American exhibit in place through October 26. The exhibit covers plant uses, tool development, maps, language, art, music, misconceptions about Native people, and more. A recent addition is a display panel on uses of plants to make dye colors for wool to be used in weaving blankets. As with other parts of the exhibit, we emphasize connections between traditional uses in the past, with modern uses and those that continue to current times. The Museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. The public is invited to visit the Museum, this exhibit, and our various interpretive and educational programs.
Plants are used to dye wool for weaving in Navajo culture, northern Arizona.
Colored yarns show the color that comes from each plant, depending on the substance used to set dyes. Some are different from what you might expect.
Most of these plants do not grow on the Central Coast. Some have related plants that do, such as Paintbrush, Sagebrush, Sunflower, and lichens.
Notice that even such things as discarded onion skins can be used to produce colors for weaving.
Some of these plants are also used for food and medicine, and in other ways in addition to making dyes.
The weaver uses a loom to make a blanket with distinctive geometric patterns and shapes. Though often called "rugs," most are used as wraps in cold weather and on the backs of chairs, or as wall hangings, rather than on floors.
This is another example of a traditional practice, with some additions and variations, that is still in use today .
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