-Melanie Pesata-

-Nikkie Willie: Basket weaver, Potter, Bead worker, moccasin maker, Seamstress. (Photo) 1,2,3,

Hello, my name is Nikki Willie. I am from the Ollero Clan; I have lived in Dulce all of my life. I am one of few basket weavers among my tribe. Basket making has employed me for over 3 decades. I learned basket making from Lydia Pesata. I enjoy weaving and creating many styles of basketry. As a weaver I must be physically and mentally prepared for this task. It takes many hours, days, weeks, and sometimes months to make one basket. My baskets are made for decoration or used for traditional healing ceremonies. My beautiful, completed baskets speak for me, I don’t have to say much. When a basket is completed it’s a beautiful keepsake for all to enjoy.

Contact: Jicarilla Cultural Arts & Heritage Center

-Shirene Antone-

-Miranda Nostinneh-

-Karena De Jesus-

-Keshia Julian-

Rowena Mora:  Basket weaver, potter, beadwork, moccasin maker, seamstress: (Photo) 1,2,3

“Hello, my name is Rowena Mora I am from the Llanero clan, initially it was just a job to be a basket weaver but now it is my passion. In weaving baskets for over 35 years, I have learned that Jicarilla basketry is an art that bridges the past with present. Lydia Pesata and Renee Velarde had taught me the art of basket making. I love to bring my creative to life through my artwork. From the preparation of materials supplied by nature to selection of the colors and designs, my weaving is rooted in traditional design concepts. For colors I use red, orange, yellow, white, and tan. The white and tan colors are natural colors that come for sumac and willow. Knowing that people appreciate and love my artwork challenges and inspires me to have new creations. It is exciting to know that my baskets are exhibited throughout the world for people to enjoy. I hope my basketry inspires younger generations and upcoming artist to carry on this Apache art and traditions.”

Contact: rcotole@yahoo.com

–Nicola Vigil–

–Shelden Nunez-Velarde: Potter, Bead worker, Moccasin maker, Basket weaver. (Photos) 1,2,3,4,5

Shelden belongs to the Ollero Clan, sometimes referred to as the mountain people-pottery makers. His interest in the art of pottery started at an early age and being presented with the opportunities to learn from established potters such as Lydia Pesata, Jicarilla Apache and Felipe Ortega, a potter of Jicarilla descent. The desire to produce beautiful pottery pieces was already in place as his great, great, grandmother, O’Ha Montoya, who lived on the plains and mountains surrounding Cimarron, New Mexico, possessed the ability to create micaceous utilitarian pottery.

Throughout the years, Shelden has developed his own unique style of developing pottery. He specializes in hand- coiling traditional Jicarilla Apache pottery. As his ancestors did, Shelden gathers the clay and slip from clay sources.

-Tana Veneno

He soaks the clay, cleans, sifts, mixes, hand coils, shapes, sands, polishes, and then fires his pottery outdoor, using pine or cedar wood. The pottery pieces he produces are reflective of both traditional-functional and contemporary.

For over 30 years, Shelden has won national recognition and numerous awards for his art. Besides his own artwork, he has conducted workshops at museums and cultural institutions and demonstrates throughout the Southwest about the Jicarilla Apache pottery tradition.

Shelden is also an accomplished bead-worker and basket-maker.

Contact: Instagram-shanteapache

              Email- goshtlish@gmail.com