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Basketry on Guam
On Guam, before, and during the Japanese occupation baskets and mats made out of natural materials were used in every day livelyhood. Before we had buckets, plastic bags, and containers for carrying things, Chamorro's used baskets. Most baskets where designed for holding small things, where the plaited coconut leaves, were woven tightly, so that the objects would not fall out. There are two types of materials that are used for weaving on Guam. These are the only two that I know of, and there might be more, but these are the ones that I use. We use the hågun niyok (hawh-goon neezjook) or the coconut frond(the leaf branch of the coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) and the leaves of the åkgak (awhk-gak) tree, which is the Screwpine (Pandanus tectorious).

Also, I know how to make other types of baskets other than the ones listed here, the only reason why these types of baskets aren't listed, is because they are, not from Guam, or they aren't a traditional type of baskets, or because they are something I created. I have a picture gallery of baskets that I can make that aren't from Guam. Here is the picture gallery of Guam's coconut leaf basketry. Also for your viewing pleasure I have a Pandanus basketry picture gallery!


1. Gua'gua' (pronounced gwah-gwah) Coconut Frond Basket







The gua'gua , which is a round basket, is plaited out of coconut leaves. There are two types of gua'gua' There is the regular one, and then there is the gua'gua' talayeru (NetFishermans Basket), The first basket, the regular gua'gua', wasn't always woven tightly, and was just an all around general use basket. But the gua'gua' talayeru, was not woven in one day, but was woven over a period of weeks. This allowed the leaves to dry out during the weaving process, and not have any shrinkage in the plaiting, thus allowing this basket the ability of holding water. The reason why there are two different catagories, is that the gua'gua' talayeru was a basket that had to be perfect, while the regular gua'gua' didn't need the extra perfection. Also, the gua'gua' can be made different sizes, depending on the application. Most baskets now that I make, are for decorative purposes, and usually do not exceed about 12" in diameter. But on occasion, I have made baskets 2' in diameter.



2. Che'op (pronounced chey-oop) Workmans Basket

The che'op, is called the workmans basket in english. This type of basket is made out of a section of a coconut frond, and each set of leaves on each side is woven. Then the sides are conected on each of the ends and the contents which are going in this basket are placed inside, and then the basket is closed on top with a french braid. When the contents of the basket is to be used, the branch is split down the middle, and the contents of the che'op are removed.



3. Ala (pronounced awh-lawh) Coconut Frond Satchel

The ala, is a basket that is made out of one strip of coconut leaves. It is one long continuos strip, and this is what forms the baskets rim. This basket is related to the che'op in the way it is woven. Instead of haveing to rims, and leaving the coconut leaves closed while weaving, the leaves are spread open, and everyother leaf is pushed to the left.



4. Kottot (pronounced koe-toot) Pandanus Basket

The Kottot, is a square basket made out of the dried leaves of the åkgak (awhk-gak) tree, which is the Screwpine (pandanus tectorious). The main type of Kottot is the square one, and then there are many variations of that. But with the basic structure of the kottot you can make many items. Below is a table of items I can make with pandanus leaves. The way this basket is made, is you take strips of pandanus leaves, and weave them into a mat, using the over under process then on each side of the mat (there will be four sides) lift the two middle leaves up, and cross them over each other , and start weaving up. This will start the raising of the sides of your mat into a basket.



5. Gueha (pronounced gway-ha) Fan

The Gueha, is merely a fan, that is plaited out of a section of the coconut frond. Depending on the size of the fan that you want, 3/4 of that fan will be the coconut frond, while the other 1/4 of the fan will come from the plaiting on the top. The gueha, can be seen althroughout the Pacific. From Hawaii to Guam, and all the way to the Federated States of Micronesia the fan is made. Most gueha that are made, are usually made short and wide, to push more air, without hitting yourself. But there are speciallty gueha, that have specific purposes. The guehan guafi (gway-han gwaw-fee) or fire fan is made longer and not as wide, to let you push air, and not burn yourself.... Then there is the guehan manmanak (gway-han man-manak) or the fan for spanking. This kind of fan is just a regular kind of fan, although it has a longer handle. Meant for smacking disrespectful kids.



6. Katupat (pronounced kah-too-pat) Rice Basket

The Katupat, is an ingenious type of basket that is 4" x 3" usually. This utilizes only one leaf, and is used for cooking rice, in rice eating cultures in the Pacific. The way this basket is made is very confusing, and to try to explain it would be a task in itself. This type of weaving, cannot be done by example, merely because the steps in making this basket is so confusing. It can only be learned by repetition. ALOT of repetition. But, there are four different types of katupats, two which are Carolinian in origin, while two of which are from Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. The first one is the diamond shaped katupat, and the second is the flat nosed katupat, both of these are started in the same way, but what sets these two apart, is how they are finished.




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