Like many other items that were forged during the fur trade era, blankets have complex and layered meanings. They can evoke fond childhood memories or become embedded in family histories, but they also serve as reminders of colonialism and systemic racism. For many Indigenous peoples, the iconic multistripe Point Blanket has come to symbolize family, community, and culture. More info
While HBC did not introduce the first commercial Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket Coat until 1922, Indigenous Peoples had already been styling blankets into coats for nearly 200 years. Metis author Chelsea Vowel explores the complex relationship Indigenous peoples have with the multistripe Point Blanket in this article published in 2017 in Canadian Art Magazine.
Eco-Friendly Blanket Options Available in Canada
When the Point Blanket was introduced at HBC trading posts in the 1700s, it was originally designed with a plain white, scarlet red, green or blue background with a single bar of indigo on each end (called a “heading”). As the blanket became more available and popular, the colour and design variations grew to meet the specific preferences of different Indigenous communities.
In Nuu-chah-nulth nations, for example, the preference was for green blankets; and in Coast Salish communities, red. In addition to varying colour choices, the patterns and designs of HBC Point Blankets reflected spiritual and practical purposes.
Today, striped blankets are often used by individuals to express their style, as well as by teams at sporting events such as the Winter Olympics. The popularity of striped blankets helped create the national identity that is now synonymous with Canada around the world.