Mother Kumiai Daughter

Kumeyaay basketweaver Tany Carrillo pictured at home with her daughter, Chely, in San Jose de la Zorra, Baja California, Mexico. Their home is located just before you enter the San Jose de la Zorra valley -- most of the homes in the actual Kumiai valley did not get electricity wired in until 2006.

The above photo was shot in very low light at dusk in the ejido -- matching the interior incandescent light bare bulb brightness to the ambient lighting was the camera trick (why the image appears a bit grainy, but the mood was preserved).

Chely Carrillo, a young Native American Kumiai Indio girl, environmental portrait on the ranch.

The greenery is especially lush due to heavy La Niña winter storms of 2025.

Chely and her family dog on the farm.

This is Chely's family bathroom in 2005, located a few steps along the path from her house. I don't recall seeing running water in her house and definately no indoor toilet facilities.

None of the Kumiai houses I visited in the tribal ejidos in 2004-2005-2006 had running water in the houses -- they all used similar outhouses.

Tany Carrillo, a Native American tribal weaver, supports her family by weaving coiled juncus baskets, basket hats in the Mission Indian style.

In fact, Chely's village is famous around the world for their rattlesnake tribal basket art.

Chely pictured on the farm with her mother and father, Armando Melendrez.

Chely takes a photo with her Kumiai grandmother Celia Silva in front of her home in San Jose de la Zorra, Mexico. Celia is Chely's paternal grandmother (Armando is her son).

Traditional Yuman juncus baskweaving art runs in the blood of these indigenous tribal members, Tany models a coiled juncos hat and bowl she hand-weaved from split juncus on deergrass foundation.

To buy purchase these Kumeyaay Indian artist's authentic San Jose de la Zorra Kumeyaay Indian baskets basketry, her traditional arts and crafts, please visit the Shumup Ko Hup "Dream Come True" Indian store in Old Town State Historic Park, San Diego, California.

San Jose de la Zorra Kumeyaay Indigenous Community on-line documentary, Kumeyaay pictures overall documentary style photo documentation of the village inhabitants, habitations.

Photos, Writing and Web Page Design Contributed by webmaster, GARY G BALLARD, San Diego.