In a balanced world, everything gives. The sun gives its warmth and the cloud gives its rain to the plants below so they can grow. The plants give themselves to the elk, which eats them and grows strong. The elk gives his body to the hunter, nourishing a family of grateful humans. The hunter gives his time and skill to his community, sharing the gift of food with all. And the community gives their care and respect back to the earth, so it can continue the cycle anew.
Coast Salish artist Gail White Eagle (Muckleshoot and Chehalis) honors the sacrifice of the elk and gift of the hunter in her Elk’s Offering design, used here in the Elk's Offering Throw Blanket. “This design came to me during the pandemic,” shares Gail, “as our hunters were diligently out hunting for our people. My design is meant to honor the hunter, who sacrifices time to feed his people, and importantly the elk, who sacrifices its life to feed the people.”
Gail’s design represents both the elk and its environment in traditional Coast Salish geometric weaving patterns. “The lightning design symbolizes an elk’s antlers,” says Gail. “The triangles depict an elk’s head and ears.” Triangles can also represent the hills and mountains where elks roam. Herself an internationally renowned weaver, Gail’s use of weaving patterns not only ties this design to her own body of work, but the Coast Salish and greater Native weaving communities of which she is an integral part.
Washington-born, globally produced.
Product Details:
- Made in a vertical mill in Norway
- Fabric content: 100% Norwegian wool
- Coast Salish design by Gail White Eagle (Muckleshoot and Chehalis)
- Blanket size: 53.15"x78.74" / 135 cm x 200 cm
- Colors include browns, red, and natural white
About The Artist:
SiSeeNaxAlt, whose English name is Gail White Eagle, is from the Muckleshoot & Chehalis Tribes, and has hereditary lines to many others. While she is currently employed by the Muckleshoot Tribe as a Lead Culture Teacher, sharing her knowledge with youth, adults & elders, SiSeeNaxAlt has been weaving for 25 years.
North Winds Series
The North Wind brings cold air from the Arctic, and on its wings come tales of green lights that dance across the night sky and snowflakes that sparkle like diamonds. The North Wind is also a trade wind, influencing migration and the exchange of goods for people across the Northern Hemisphere for thousands of years. 8th Generation combined the poetic and the practical of the North Winds to create the North Winds Series—a collection of Native designed 100% wool blankets produced at a heritage mill in Norway.
The land of glacial fjords and snowy mountains, Norway has a long history of wool textile production. For the North Winds Series, Eighth Generation partnered with a Norwegian mill specializing in sustainable practices and heritage techniques to produce this special series of Native designed, 100% wool blankets, fusing traditional wool textile knowledge from two ancient traditions with two modern companies working to keep cultural art thriving. This unique partnership allows them to work with a small mill that, like Eighth Generation, values sustainability and cultural practices, while sharing Indigenous art and excellence with Nordic partners. As a vertical mill, all parts of the wool blanket production takes place in the same area—the sheep are raised and tended, the wool sheered, processed, and spun into yarn, and the blankets woven in one sustainable operation. These luxurious, 100% wool blankets are of a thick, heavy weight, perfect for cuddling under while you watch the snow fall outside your window.
Product Care:
Spot clean only; hand wash and air dry; lay flat to dry away from direct sunlight
Clean liquid stains immediately with warm water and mild detergent
Never use harsh chemicals or scrub wool
Steam to de-wrinkle
Store blanket away from direct sunlight
