Marilyn Hume, White Mountain Apache basket maker, 2024 | Cibecue, AZ

Marilyn specializes in weaving burden baskets, tobacco baskets, and Apache pitch-covered water vases (known as “tus”). She will mentor her adult grandson, Michael Benito.

Marilyn is renowned for her dedication to preserving traditional basket weaving and other cultural practices. Born on March 11, 1956, in Cibecue, Arizona, Marilyn learned the art of basket weaving as a child, sitting alongside her mother, who emphasized the importance of this tradition as both a cultural practice and a potential livelihood. Marilyn’s mother, in turn, had been taught by her grandmother, a woman of extraordinary resilience and history, who lived to the remarkable age of 113 and shared stories of her time during the era of Geronimo.

Marilyn’s creations are deeply integrated into White Mountain Apache ceremonies, such as the Sunrise Ceremony, a coming-of-age ritual for girls transitioning to womanhood. Burden baskets play a key role in these ceremonies, holding items distributed by the dancer to attendees. Marilyn has contributed to her family’s traditions by creating a large basket and a buckskin dress for her granddaughter’s Sunrise Ceremony, ensuring the continuity of her community’s legacy.

Each of Marilyn’s baskets is crafted with care, using traditional materials and methods. She works with sumac, mulberry, and willow, incorporating natural dyes such as devil’s claws, which are becoming increasingly scarce. Her baskets, historically used for carrying rocks and berries, now serve ceremonial purposes and are prized for their functionality and artistry. Marilyn’s expertise extends beyond basketry; she also creates cradleboards, moccasins, buckskin dresses, beadwork, and traditional camp dresses.

Marilyn’s artistry is deeply rooted in her commitment to her community and cultural preservation. She has passed down her skills to her daughters, granddaughters, and even her grandson, ensuring that the knowledge and techniques endure. She also shares her work publicly, having demonstrated her craft at the White Mountain Apache Museum, the Smithsonian Museum, the Arizona State Museum, and events in San Francisco. Her participation in these venues underscores her role as both a creator and a cultural ambassador.

Her craftsmanship is especially evident in the making of tus water vases. This labor-intensive process involves gathering and melting pinon sap during the summer months, then skillfully coating the woven vase to create a functional and durable vessel. Marilyn’s mastery of this technique exemplifies her dedication to maintaining the authenticity and utility of traditional Apache items.

Marilyn’s work is highly sought after. Her pieces collectors and cultural institutions quickly purchase her work as quickly as she makes them. Beyond her skill, she is admired for her willingness to teach and share her knowledge. Her natural materials are carefully sourced and prepared, reflecting her deep respect for the environment and her craft’s traditions. As White

Mountain Apache Museum Director Ann Skidmore observed, “If baskets could talk, they would share Marilyn’s life story.”

Marilyn’s contributions extend beyond her artistry. She embodies the living legacy of her people, ensuring that White Mountain Apache traditions remain vibrant for future generations. Her baskets, dresses, and other creations are not merely objects but carriers of cultural memory and pride.