Although many Choctaw were forcibly moved to Oklahoma during the nineteenth century, some stayed behind in Mississippi. The Mississippi band managed to preserve many of their cultural traditions, including basketry. 

This basket was created by Susan Denson, one of the most acclaimed basket weavers of the twentieth century. The splints were naturally dyed using walnut tree bark for the dark brown color and bloodroot for the orange-red. The light tan is the natural color of the cane used to create the basket. The diamond pattern on the basket is known as the “cow eye” design. The pattern highlights Denson’s knowledge of traditional Choctaw basketry and her superior skills as a weaver.