Shoulder Bag Item Number: Ni34 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Square flat woven bag with a long woven strap, geometric design done in cross stitch, identical on both sides. Centre design consists of a pink flower with eight points, outlined in blue, four point flowers placed at four points of central flower. The border design has a solid cross-stitch in purple has small clusters of stitches pointing toward central green untwisting ribbon or scroll; cross knit loop stitch at sides and across top. Two separate pieces form strap, ends are twisted and knotted together at apex, opposite ends are sewn to inside at top edge of bag; strap is pink with a continuous line of blue-green forming a geometric pattern on either side.
Bags are made by women but worn only by men; several bags can be worn at the same time as part of everyday attire, sometimes a bag can be worn below the waistbelt; bags are used to carry personal possessions; bags are now part of the tourist market.
Flower represents the toto which grows only during the wet season and can symbolize either corn or peyote.
contemporary; tourist art; ritual
The Wixáritari are known to the larger world as the Huichol, however that is not the name they use to refer to themselves.