Susan Elliott, from the Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola shared the significance of button blankets to more than 500 students and staff members at Hastings Elementary.

Button blankets are known as robes of power. A button blanket can have 3000-4000 individually hand sewn buttons, adding beauty but also weight that provides the wearer with the comfort of a therapeutic blanket placed upon their shoulders. Traditionally, button blankets are given as coming of age gifts and worn during potlatches, ceremonies and other celebrations.

“The blankets pass down history from our ancestors. The eagle is from my great grandmother’s side of the family,” says Susan pointing to a blanket her daughter is making for her granddaughter in which an eagle motif is centred. Surrounding the eagle is a border with a small opening at the top, symbolizing the opening of the longhouse that lets smoke escape. “Each blanket takes two to three months to complete,” says Susan.

For the past eight weeks, Susan and Larissa have been sharing their knowledge with students and gifting them an opportunity to try on a blanket. “It’s a great honour, says, Indigenous Education Enhancement work Denise Pertelson who has facilitated this learning at Hastings. For many, this may be the only time in their lives they get to try on a blanket. “I saw it on their faces and how meaningful it was,” she says Pertelson.

Grade 5 student Phaedra was honoured to have a chance to wear a blanket and appreciated the knowledge Susan shared. “I think we wanted to learn the [old] ways so that we could get back what was lost,” she says.  

“One thing I learned was that not everyone can make a button blanket,” says Grade 4 student Úna.

“The students didn’t make or keep anything. This project was about Reconciliation, and their gift is the knowledge they receive from Susan and Larissa as well as the chance to wear the blankets,” says Pertelson.

Úna tries on a button blanket.

Being an urban Indigenous person herself (originally from Secwépemc Nation) and working with many urban Indigenous students at Hastings Elementary and Windermere Secondary where she also serves, Pertelson sees value in recognizing the importance of urban Indigenous identities. Metro Vancouver has the third largest urban Indigenous population in Canada.

As a former teacher, Susan says that being with the students and interacting with them has brought back memories and a lot of joy. “This brought a lot of happiness to me. It made me feel good to pass along knowledge from my great grandmother to these children.” Students were able to see a button blanket that was over 100 years old which was passed down to Susan by her grandmother.

In celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, schools across VSB are engaging in learning about a vast array of Indigenous histories and cultures. Increasing knowledge, awareness, appreciation of and respect for Indigenous histories, traditions and cultures allows students to be informed about the past and work towards a more equitable future for Indigenous peoples.