Significance

• In the book "Language of the Robe: American Indian Trade Blankets," authors Robert W. Kapoun and Charles J. Lohrmann explain the significance of blankets to native culture. "Look at the Indian women watching the dance and you'll see that every one of them is wearing a brightly colored shawl," they write. "Watch the men singing, dancing or drumming, and often you'll see blankets being used as part of their attire. These blankets are not merely being worn to provide warmth. They provide a statement, if you will, which says 'These blankets are part of our culture.' The blanket alone makes more of a statement of 'Indianness' than any other item."
  
  

Navajo Blankets

• The design was traditional in Mexico and the southwest well before European settlers made their impact on the culture. A vertical, wooden-frame loom is used to weave colored threads into a large, geometric design. Originally made of hand-spun cotton thread, the switch was made to mostly wool after the Spanish brought sheep to the area. The simplest designs are stripes, but extensive zigzag and diamond patterns are also prevalent. Additionally, the Storm pattern consists of a square in the center of the blanket with jagged lines connecting to it from the corners. This symbolically portrays luck brought to the home via lightning. A wide variety of other objects may also be depicted.
  
  

Lakota Star Quilts

• The Lakota became enamored with quilts as a replacement for the painted, quilled and beaded buffalo hides that were prominent before disappearing during the near extinction of bison. Made from pre-existing fabric, often silk or wool, a common form of star quilt is the veteran's quilt, given to a male returning from war. Designs of this nature often include patriotic symbols such as the American flag. As the name suggests, star quilts always include a star, sometimes of many different points. It symbolizes the "Great Spirit" arranging the stars to watch over mankind. The Morning Star symbolizes the importance of giving thanks and celebrating a new dawn.
  
  

Medicine Wheel

• The Medicine Wheel is another popular Native American blanket design, used primarily by the Sioux and highlighted by a circle containing four lines, pointing in the four primary directions. The circle is considered sacred in native culture because it signifies harmony among all things with no beginning or end. Any number of other images may be included within the frame of this central design.
  
  

Finger-Weaving

• An ancient tradition, finger-weaving of blankets is a design technique used by many tribes. Perhaps the most well-known example is the Chilkat blanket of the Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest. Made from cedar bark and goat hair, these five-sided blankets often have a long fringe. They are worn across the shoulders for important occasions and are normally decorated with a picture of a frog, whale, bear or other animal that is symbolically important to the family of the one who wears it. Trees, circles and blocks may also be included in the design.