Devil's Claw, beargrass, yucca, willows and cattails--these are the stuff from which the tribes of the Southwest have woven baskets since their cultures began to take on identities. The oldest of all crafts, basketry is troublesome, labor-intensive and time consuming. Materials for a basket may be harvested 100 miles away from the weaver's home. Then comes preparation--soaking, stripping, splitting and dying the often spiny or razor sharp plants. Basketry is not economically rewarding and is dying more quickly than the other arts and crafts as other jobs appear on reservations. And yet, many ceremonies, rituals and dances require baskets as part of their execution. So, perhaps it will never entirely fade away.