While you are looking to purchase a Native American or Native design blanket, always think about quality and cost to get the best value for you and your household.

You may likewise consider blanket styles like Aztec, Bohemian, Tribal or retro prints. Also consider the type of material you will be happy with. With options in wool, polyester fleece, cotton, acrylic, to name a few.

In addition, what size will best fit your needs? A throw size? Or perhaps a bed size like Twin, Full Queen Size or King?

If you have ulitmately selected a Native American design blanket, may we offer some information to help you to discover more about them:

Indian blankets were precious trade products. A blanket with three beavers pictured on it, for instance, meant the blanket was worth 3 beaver furs. The Hudson Bay Company, established in Canada in the late 1600s, traded North American Indian blankets to Europeans. The creation of frontier trading posts by white settlers in the 1800s allowed people to exchange their products to European Americans for other goods.

During the early 19th century Navajo ladies began to weave chief's blankets, which were so commonly traded that they were worn by Indians from the northern Great Plains to the Mexican border. Although not a badge of chieftainship, these blankets did signify power and abundance. For example, 3 phases of increasing complexity in design share form foundation based on broad black and white stripes, sprinkled with bands of indigo blue, bars of red, or geometric figures, typically a serrated diamond.

In the 1500s the Navajo people of the Southwest learned blanket weaving from the Pueblos, who made blankets from the wool of Spanish sheep. Navajo blankets became understood for their bright colors, geometric patterns, and representation of animals. Made according to the custom of the Tlingit tribe of Alaska, a fringe blanket of cedar bark fiber and goat wool required six months to complete.

Native American blankets are very popular throughout the United States and around the world for their appeal and craftsmanship. Some today are woven by native artisans; others are mass-produced by factories such as Pendleton. Either way, these blankets are fundamentally linked to the Southwest and American Indian custom.

Native Americans used blankets for many reasons. Nez Perce moms living in the Northwest, for example, carried their infants by slinging them over their shoulders in a blanket. Females in the Pueblo tribe of the Southwest wore black blankets, or mantas, and kept their shoulders bare throughout rite of spring events. Pueblos also used embroidered blankets to show animals killed by hunters. In addition, the Navajos of the Southwest weaved blankets for horses along with riders with signs meant to secure them on their travels.

The signs relating to the varied Indigenous Peoples:

The symbology of the Bear

As a generally spiritual group of people, Native Americans utilize many animals in their symbols, and among the most common ones are bears. Bears are believed to be the protectors of the animal kingdom and are for that reason treated with respect. It is likewise revered as a symbol of courage, strength, and management. Bears are highly regarded by a great deal of people and a few of them even call their finest warriors bears for having the greatest ability of protecting their tribe from any kind of harm. Others even believe that they can draw power from the strength of a bear simply by dreaming about one, eating it, or by merely touching the animal.

The symbol of the Borthers Symbol

The symbol of the brothers depicts two figures that are linked at the feet. This symbolizes having a comparable journey or sharing the same life path. It also stresses equality, connection and loyalty in between people.

The sign regarding the Coyote

For Native American, the Coyote is said to be the trickster spirit. The significance of the coyote sign appears in its wide use particularly for southwestern Native American tribes like the Zuni and Navajo. While the Coyote is considered as a powerful and spiritual animal it is often portrayed as a naughty being, which is why it's related to selfishness, greed, and deceit.

The sign regarding the Kokopelli

Kokopelli is the name of a Native American divine being linked to fertility. It is often portrayed as a stooped, dancing man playing a flute, and typically features a large phallus. The Kokopelli is a symbol of human and plant fertility however it is also linked to mischief like the coyote because of its whimsical nature.

The symbol regarding the Morning Star

The morning star includes a little circle encircled by numerous spiked rays. Native Americans relate the morning star as a sign of hope and guidance due to the fact that it is constantly the brightest light in the sky throughout dawn. Some people even honor the morning star as a sign of spiritual pureness and nerve while others associate it with the rebirth of past warriors.

The sign of the Thunderbird

The thunderbird is the most crucial mythical bird for the Native American tribes. This stunning bird takes its name from the belief that it is strong enough to make thunderous sounds whenever it flaps its wings. The Native Americans likewise believed that thunderbirds might shoot lightning from their eyes. The thunderbird is an omen of war and the symbol of glory and power.