A Blanket is More Than a Blanket
MARCH 16, 2023 -- A blanket is defined as “a large piece of woolen or similar material used as a bed covering or other covering for warmth” (Oxford University Press). However, the simple commodity known as a blanket has different significances depending on the cultural or ethnic background.
Indigenous cultures across North America made and used blankets in different ways depending on their ecological surroundings. Some blankets were made of various plant fibres found in their environments, while others were made of animal skins from hunting, and some were made of a combination of both plant and animals. Indigenous blankets also had their own evolution of development as settlers and traders moved westward and the country was expanded for the Canadian Government.