The Meaning of Button Blanket
by Melanie and Katrina
A clan is an animal's spirit. The Timshian have four clans: Eagles, Wolves, Ravens, and Killer Whales. Each clan has a different animal for their family crest.
A button blanket is a wool cloth that is bright red and black or dark blue in color that has a family crest on the back. It has hundreds of tiny, white mother- of- pearl buttons sewn on. It is a ceremonial cape. The crest comes from both the mother's and father's sides of the family. A dedication ceremony takes place to show others the crest. The blanket is made for the dedicated person. Blankets can be worn by its owner to any ceremony. During the four nights of the Potlatch more than sixty new blankets are presented and dedicated. The blankets are worn to other potlatches too.
A crest is an image of an animal adopted by a family or clan. A crest is decorated and used on an object like: an article of clothing, a house, a button blanket, a canoe, a grave marker, and many other objects that show ownership.
