The meaning of a blanket is a complicated story. It can repr

Infected Blankets

Ceremony

Star Blankets

The blanket can be used as a way of honoring individual life changing events (births, deaths, graduations, marriages) such as gift giving ceremonies, a way of recording a significant event, or to provide protection. Blankets replaced the role of the buffalo robes in ceremony as the number of buffalo declined.

This is a grey area as it never has been proven or disproved! Lord Jeffery Amherst was a commanding general for the British forces in the mid 1700's. Amherst allegedly supported germ warfare against Aboriginal people through the distribution of infected blankets. These accusations stem from a letter written to Captain Simeon Ecuyer.

The 8 point star design. This type of blanket is used for honoring, protection and ceremony. The star on the star blanket is the symbol for the morning star – the beginning of a new day/another day of life given by Creator. (The stars are used as teachings and blessings – the standing between light (knowledge) and darkness (ignorance), the morning star inspires understanding and life). To the Sioux people the star blanket is a link between the living and the dead thus by extension symbolizing immortality.

The four traditional colors on this HBC blanket were –green, red, yellow and indigo because those colors were very easy to produce at the time with colorfast dyes (dyes that were resistant to fading and running). These sets of colors were sometimes referred to as Queen Anne’s colours as they became fashionable during her reign (1702-1714). The colors took a different meaning for Aboriginal people as green- new life, red-battle/hunt, yellow-harvest/sunshine and blue-water.

Colors

Blessings

A story is told within the blanket through reflecting elements of nature. The colors represent meaning such as yellow-sun, sky blue-wind, green-mother earth, purple-grandmother spirit, navy blue-raven/health, red-thunder

Pendleton Blankets

To give a blanket is to demonstrate great respect, honor and admiration for an individual. When receiving a blanket as a gift, the giver holds the individual in very high respects for their generosity and accomplishments. It is believed that receiving a blanket will bring good dreams and prosperity.

When a blanket is placed on an individual, it is like wrapping the respect and admiration of everyone in the community around them physically and spiritually.

Capotes

They were also used in the fur trade but was made by a different company. The patterns were formed by native mythologies and design preferences that were aimed towards their customers.

Capotes – point blankets hooded coats that were used by both Aboriginal people and French Canadians (they were great for the cold winter!)

Links to curriculum

The Fur Trade

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/stories/020020-4007-e.html

http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=f5dc15e1-0d9c-4476-a39d-bccc7658a675%40sessionmgr110&vid=1&hid=116&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=rch&AN=6FP1553859445

http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=e13d9739-d4b4-4cf6-9e25-bfa20c5af4d6%40sessionmgr110&vid=1&hid=102&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=fih&AN=fih-FADB4802-D030211A

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson's_Bay_point_blanket

http://search.proquest.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/docview/1011485806?accountid=14474

http://starblanket.cpfx.ca/

http://www.northernstar.coop/NSOhistory.html

http://www.northernstar.coop/Star_Brochure%20Final.pdf

http://www.sicc.sk.ca/elders_faq.html

http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/meaning-of-colors.html

http://www.canadianart.ca/features/2012/03/06/rebecca-belmore-out-in-the-cold/

http://www.canadianart.ca/features/2012/03/06/rebecca-belmore-out-in-the-cold/

http://www.snuneymuxwvoices.ca/english/blanket_community.asp

https://www.google.ca/#q=+Musqueam+weavers+near+Vancouver

http://www.chihuly.com/colorful-exchange-american-indian-trade-blankets_detail.aspx

http://www.northernstar.coop/NSOhistory.html

http://aktalakota.stjo.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8594&news_iv_ctrl=0

People who guided and helped:

Elder Pauline Paulson

Elder Ruth Cardinal

Elder Bob Cardinal

Charlotte Auigbelle

Gary Gagnon

Dwayne Donald

http://starblanket.cpfx.ca/

Blankets are meant to be “circular” or wrapped around a person so that no square edges or corners. Just fluid lines of color and texture, which convey a sense of motion.

Wearing blankets is an almost spiritual and so (Especially when worn as part of a dance) Blankets can take on a life of their own. They have a personality and spirit.

HBC “point” blanket was introduced in 1780. Name was from the “point” system that was invented by French weavers to indicate the weight and size of a blanket by lines that were woven into the side of the blanket. The blankets were made of wool. These blankets were traded for their value in pelts. Each point was NOT a way of measuring the quantity of pelts.

Blankets

“As the light from the fire illuminated the moving bodies and blankets, the swirling shapes, lines, patterns and colors sprang to life, I no longer saw blankets, but rather the familiar designs of the Holy people coming to life from the sand paintings. I saw moving clouds, glowing sunsets, varicoloured streaks of light, rainbow goddesses, sacred mountains, horned toads and images like desert mirages- all dancing before my eyes.” - Rain Parrish

“Many an Indian has accomplished his own personal salvation by “going back to the blanket.” The Indian blanket or buffalo robe, a true American garment and worn with the significance of language covered beneath it, is the prototype of the American Indian, one of the bravest attempts ever made by man on this continent to raise to the heights of true brutality.” - Luther Standing Bear

The meaning of a blanket is a complicated story. It can represent legends, stories, events and other perspectives of culture and heritage. Blankets are a form of craftsmanship, artistry, history and generosity. The blanket still holds a significant role in Aboriginal culture. The giving and receiving of a blanket holds the tradition of generosity and blessings.