Nellie Charlie

Who was Nellie Charlie?

Nellie Charlie was a Mono Lake Paiute - Kucadikadi basketmaker associated with Yosemite National Park. She was born in Lee Vining, California, the daughter of tribal headman Pete Jim, and his wife Patsy, also a basketmaker. She married Young Charlie, a Mono Lake Paiute - Kucadikadi man from Yosemite, and they had six children. Her Paiute name was Besa-Yoona.

She worked in both traditional and modern basket styles, and participated in the annual Indian Field Days competition in Yosemite in the 1920s. Her daughter, Daisy Mallory, became a prominent weaver.

She was among a group of Paiute women who "became known for their exceedingly fine, visually stunning and complex polychrome baskets." Others in this group included Lucy Telles and Carrie Bethel.

She died in Bishop, California.